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2.0

ORR using secure juvenile detention centers to detain unaccompanied migrant teenagers

  1. Original Date Announced

    August 15, 2025

    On January 8, 2026, the Washington Post reported that the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has begun detaining unaccompanied migrant teenagers at Abraxas Academy, a secure juvenile detention center in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. ORR awarded a $9 million contract to the facility's operator on August 15, 2025 to hold up to 30 unaccompanied children. Since early October, migrant boys—some of whom have no pending criminal charges—have been held in a dedicated wing of the facility, which has a documented history of abuse allegations and recently had one of its state licenses revoked by Pennsylvania officials following an incident of staff violence against a child.

    While federal rules require ORR to place children in the least restrictive setting, an HHS spokesperson stated that placement decisions rely on specific behavior-based risk assessments and legal criteria. Attorneys visiting the facility report that the conditions mirror those for juveniles serving criminal sentences, including locked cells and limited access to recreation and family communication.

    Trump 2.0 [ID #2172]

    2025.08.15 FDPS - Abraxas Alliance Contract 2026.01.08 Reported: Trump administration jails migrant teens in facility known for child abuse - Washington Post
  2. Subsequent Trump and Court Action

    November 19, 2025

    2025.11.19 SAM - Sources Sought Notice - Licensed Secure Care Beds

    According to government procurement records, ORR is exploring options to open a second secure facility that would hold up to 30 additional migrant children in Texas.

    View Document

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Trump Administration Action: Change in Practice
Subject Matter: Minors Enforcement
Agencies Affected: ORR

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