Hundreds of unaccompanied migrant children arrived in Iowa in recent years

Almost 600 unaccompanied migrant children arrived in Des Moines between 2015 and last year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Why it matters: As federal, state and city leaders spar over sheltering and supporting foreigners who have crossed the border without permission, these children are an especially vulnerable group.

State of play: Minor new arrivals have been coming to the United States without their parents in record numbers, and some end up in "the most punishing jobs in the country," per a recent New York Times investigation .

• "This shadow workforce extends across industries in every state, flouting child labor laws that have been in place for nearly a century."

How it works: The numbers are based on federal data of migrant children sponsors' ZIP codes obtained by the Times through a Freedom of Information Act request.

• The largest shares were Houston (32,000 kids), Lost Angeles (12,700) and Dallas (8,500).

Zoom in: More than 100 unaccompanied children arrived in each of these seven Iowa communities between 2015-2023 as well:

• Sioux Center (257), Cedar Rapids (133), Webster City (129), Ottumwa, (128), Waterloo (118), Denison (111) and Iowa City (100).

Flashback: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds sounded an alarm about the issue in 2021 when 19 unaccompanied children arrived in DSM on an overnight flight without federal notice.

What we're watching: Congressional efforts to tighten border security have repeatedly failed as Republicans look to avoid handing Democrats and President Biden a political win ahead of November.

• The Biden administration has turned to other approaches — including executive action .

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