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Original Date Announced
February 14, 2025NPR reports multiple ICE officers have been granted access to information in the Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) unaccompanied minors (UAC) database. Although ICE juvenile coordinators have always had access to ORR's UAC database, additional ICE personnel, not "trained in laws and regulations related to unaccompanied alien children," have now been granted access. This change occurs just as ORR published new guidance requiring fingerprinting for all adult sponsors and adult household members prior to release of a minor.
The acting director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement said the new policy was necessary "to build a culture of child safety and accountability." Advocates say they fear the administration will use the database for immigration enforcement against families who take in UACs.
A Memorandum of Agreement for information sharing between DHS and ORR was in place during the first Trump administration, but was terminated and replaced during the Biden administration.
2025.02.14 - NPR: ICE officers granted access to unaccompanied minors database
Trump 2.0 [ID #1544]Effective Date
February 14, 2025Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: ReportedTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeAssociated or Derivative Policies
- April 13, 2018 DHS agrees that HHS will share information about unaccompanied children, sponsors, and household members
- May 15, 2018 HHS proposes expanded background checks and information sharing for sponsors (and adult members of their household) of unaccompanied children
- September 21, 2018 Report that ICE arrests sponsors of unaccompanied minors
- February 14, 2025 Office of Refugee Resettlement requires fingerprints/background checks of sponsors, household members, and caregivers of unaccompanied children
Pre Trump-Era Policies
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March 11, 2021
DHS (ICE and CBP) and HHS (Office of Refugee Resettlement, ORR) execute Memorandum of Agreement that terminates and replaces a April 13, 2018, Memorandum of Agreement between the agencies that called for significant information sharing. The 2021 agreement provided for limited information sharing between the parties, but eliminated the requirement that ORR provide ICE with information regarding potential sponsors and adult members of the potential sponsor's household.
2021.03.11 Memorandum of Agreement Among HHS and DHS -
April 30, 2024
HHS enacts a final rule implementing provisions from the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement regarding placement, care, and services provided to unaccompanied children in custody of ORR. Section 410.1201 of the final rule mandates that ORR "shall not collect information on immigration status of potential sponsors for law enforcement or immigration enforcement related purposes. ORR shall not share any immigration status information relating to potential sponsors with any law enforcement or immigration enforcement related entity at any time."
2024.04.30 Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule (45 C.F.R. Part 410)
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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New Policy
Original Source:
NPR: ICE officers granted access to unaccompanied minors database
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Prior Policy
Original Source:
2021.03.11 Memorandum of Agreement Among HHS and DHS
- Prior Policy
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To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com