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Original Date Announced
February 21, 2025Multiple news sources report that ICE released a new memo titled "Unaccompanied Alien Children Joint Initiative Field Implementation." The memo directs immigration agents to track down hundreds of thousands of migrant children who entered the U.S. without their parents and investigate cases in which these minors have not appeared in immigration court.
ICE has reportedly sorted minors into three groups: "flight risk," "public safety," and "border security." Officers have been told to "prioritize 'flight risk' minors, including those who have received orders of deportation for missing court hearings." The memo lays out four phases of implementation but does not provide a start date.
The memo also critiques the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for how it has processed unaccompanied minors and calls on ORR to implement reforms "to ensure migrant children are not victims of human trafficking or victims of other forms of exploitation." ORR officials have reportedly stated that one reform will use DNA tests to establish familial relationships.
Trump 2.0 [ID #1559]
Reported: Reuters - Trump officials launch ICE effort to deport unaccompanied migrant children Reported: ABC New - Trump administration directing ICE to track down unaccompanied minors: SourceEffective Date
February 21, 2025Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)
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February 21, 2025
2025.02.21 - The New York Post: DHHS investigating vetting policies for individuals wishing to sponsor unaccompanied children
Reported: The New York Post states that HHS is investigating ORR's previous vetting policies for individuals wishing to sponsor unaccompanied children. It will suggest and implement reforms.
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February 25, 2025
2025.02.25 - Reported: NBC - Trump admin planning operation to find and possibly deport unaccompanied migrant children
NBC News reported that "sources familiar with the planning" of the Unaccompanied Alien Children Joint Initiative said that ICE will "focus on children whose sponsors did not answer the phone on the 30-day check-in" and on children who do not have court dates. The article reports that from fiscal year 2019 to August 2024, more than 291,000 children were not given notices to appear in court.
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Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: ReportedTrump Administration Action: Agency DirectiveSubject Matter: Minors EnforcementAssociated or Derivative Policies
- May 8, 2018 DHS gives notice of modifying the Alien Criminal Response Information Management System of Records to add UAC sponsors/household members
- February 5, 2020 Reported: ICE begins fingerprinting unaccompanied children age 14 and over in ORR facilities
- January 31, 2025 EOIR Acting Director Reinstates Trump Memo on Child Advocates
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