Niños de Mexico, a ministry that operated eight children’s homes in the Mexico City area, has closed its doors.
Photo from Casa Bethel, one of the Niños de Mexico orphanages / Photo via archived Niños de Mexico website
The ministry hired Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of abuse and misconduct raised against Niños de Mexico.
“After reviewing the findings of this report, it is with heavy hearts that the board of Niños de México has decided to end our ongoing ministry effective immediately,” the website states.
Niños de Mexico operated for 58 years, and according to the board statement, “countless lives have been blessed by this organization.”
The GRACE report was released on November 12 and, according to The Missourian, the ministry announced it would close that same day.
Eric Miller, a former Niños intern who has been seeking accountability for the group over abuse allegations, wrote in a Facebook post that “in one final act of cowardice, the Board of Directors has closed down Niños de México permanently without so much as a word of repentance or sorrow.”
GRACE found a breakdown at Niños in all child protection areas, “collectively creating an environment of risk that actively compromised the safety and well-being of the children under Niños’ care.” It also revealed “a catastrophic failure of oversight by the U.S. Board of Directors, which operated with a severe lack of awareness and authority over the Mexican field operations.”
The report calls on Niños to cooperate fully with the Mexican government’s investigations and judicial proceedings. It should also assist with new placements for the children in its care, providing necessary records to ensure children are supported in their new environment.
The report outlines allegations by dozens of abuse victims, including a detailed recounting about the death of one resident — Jose Luis Canizales Jimenez — in 1998 while a resident at Bethel House. According to the report, his death took place during a mountain outing with about eight boys led by Steve Ross, then a houseparent with Niños but later to become the executive director.
Some boys ran ahead, and about five minutes later, Jimenez’s body was allegedly found at the bottom of a ravine with a few inches of water. Ross said Jimenez was conscious but not very alert. Ross said he carried Jimenez back to the campsite and put him under a blanket by the fire as the boy reported he was cold. Ross admitted it was “probably a mistake” to remain at the campsite for 30 more minutes before driving everyone down the mountain and taking Jimenez to a clinic to see Dr. Larry Banta, a psychiatrist with some general practice experience. Banta told GRACE investigators he performed CPR on the boy, but that Jimenez was pronounced dead when the ambulance arrived.
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In evaluating the events and reports surrounding Jimenez’s death, GRACE determined the Niños staff did not prioritize the “physical and emotional safety” of the children in their care.
Additionally, “[t]he reported departure of Steve Ross to the United States after the incident and his subsequent return years later to become the director of Niños de México also warrants scrutiny. This raises questions about accountability and whether a thorough, transparent investigation and appropriate consequences were implemented at the time, or if the organization’s response allowed for a return to leadership despite serious allegations.”
In July 2025, Mexican government officials raided the Niños de Mexico facilities, seized documents, and removed children from the care of its orphanages.
According to the Attorney General of Mexico’s office, one of the alleged abusers has been arrested and sentenced but there are ongoing investigations into others’ involvement.
One of the raids took place at the Bethel Children’s Home, located in the Las Américas neighborhood of Texcoco, W Radio of Mexico reported.
After the raid, Niños de Mexico released a statement. “On July 9th, Mexican authorities conducted an unannounced inspection of Niños de Mexico’s homes, after which all children were removed, and staff were asked to vacate the premises,” the statement says. “We are deeply saddened and surprised by this action and are working diligently to understand the reasoning behind it. All homes complied with local standards, and we have not been made aware of any findings that would suggest immediate concern. To our knowledge, all children were being provided with safe, loving care, as well as access to necessary healthcare and education.”
After the ministry announced it would close down, Douglas Lay, a former Niños supporter who has become a critic of the ministry, told The Missourian he has been receiving calls from people asking questions about what will happen to Niños’ property and more than $1 million in its budget.
According to the most recent Form 990 that Niños filed with the Internal Revenue Service in November 2024, it had about $1.4 million in net assets or fund balances.
When a nonprofit board votes to dissolve an organization, it must follow a plan of dissolution. The Council of Nonprofits describes the plan as “how the nonprofit intends to distribute its remaining assets and address its remaining liabilities.”
MinistryWatch reached out for comment to a business that appeared to be associated with Board Chair Robert Wideman, but didn’t receive a reply before the time of publication.
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