‘Trump’s Lapdog’ vs. ‘Government Failure’: Hilton, Becerra Trade Insults in Statements to the Daily Signal

With California’s gubernatorial election drawing closer, the war of words between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton is intensifying. A series of pointed statements by both campaigns underscores just how combative the race has become.

Last week, Hilton made Becerra’s tenure as U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services a centerpiece of his campaign, arguing that more than 319,000 unaccompanied migrant children were unaccounted for after leaving federal custody during Becerra’s time leading the agency.

Hilton bases that claim on a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General audit that found Immigration and Customs Enforcement could not effectively monitor many unaccompanied migrant children after they were released to sponsors—resulting in the children becoming unaccounted for after leaving HHS custody.

The Daily Signal contacted Becerra’s campaign before publishing a story last week on the tussle between the two candidates but did not receive a response in time for publication. 

On Monday, Aug. 3, Becerra spokesman Jonathan Underland responded.

“Where Secretary Becerra rebuilt the child protection systems Trump gutted, Steve Hilton has proudly allied himself with the president who put those children in harm’s way—who illegally sent a father to a foreign prison, whose separation policies continue to take children away from their parents, and whose ICE agents shot two fathers dead this month. Hilton is bought in. He doesn’t get to cash out now,” he told the Daily Signal.

Underland’s statement did not directly address Hilton’s references to the inspector general audit, leaked HHS audio, or whistleblower allegations highlighted in the Daily Signal’s previous reporting.

However, Hilton campaign spokesman Hector Barajas told the Daily Signal that Becerra is ultimately responsible for the migrant children crisis.

“Xavier Becerra can run and hide from reporters, but he can’t hide from his record,” Barajas said. “He ran the federal agency that released more than 319,000 migrant children and then lost contact with them, leaving them vulnerable to traffickers, forced labor, and abuse. That’s not child protection, it’s one of the greatest government failures in modern history.”

“Before Xavier Becerra lectures anyone else, he needs to answer for the children his department failed to protect,” he added.

The exchange illustrates that immigration is becoming one of the sharpest dividing lines in California’s gubernatorial race. Increasingly, Hilton is tying Becerra to his record in the Biden administration, while Becerra’s campaign is accusing Hilton of echoing President Donald Trump’s immigration message.

Hilton has expanded his attacks on Becerra in recent days, accusing him of avoiding debates. Hilton also has released a video series featuring migrants who allege they were trafficked after entering the United States during Becerra’s tenure at HHS.

“My sister and I were victims of child trafficking. Xavier Becerra didn’t care about our safety. What mattered most to him was getting us out as quickly as possible from the shelter and sending us to the traffickers,” one child stated in the video interview.

But Underland fired back once more, saying Becerra is active out on the campaign trail and staying focused on problems that Californians care about most.

“While Trump’s lapdog is busy chasing cars down the street, the press corps will have plenty of time to speak with Becerra as he traverses the state, speaking with Californians about their greatest challenges and his plan to solve them together.”