Republican claims that hundreds of thousands of migrant children are missing after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border unaccompanied have recently come under scrutiny. Former President Donald Trump, along with other Republicans, criticized the border policies of the Biden administration and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. During a debate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance repeated the claim that the Department of Homeland Security had effectively lost 320,000 children. However, immigration experts argue that the claims lack significant context.
The claim that the Biden administration has lost more than 300,000 unaccompanied migrant children is based on a misinterpretation of a report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General. The report criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement for failing to monitor the location and status of unaccompanied migrant children once they are released from federal government custody. The report stated that as of May 2024, over 291,000 unaccompanied migrant children had not received a notice to appear in court, and over 32,000 had received a notice but failed to appear for immigration court hearings.
Experts refute the characterization of these children as “lost” or “missing,” emphasizing that it is primarily a paperwork issue. Factors such as a lack of communication between government agencies, outdated addresses, or logistical challenges for guardians may contribute to children not receiving notices or appearing for hearings. The report covers a period that includes Trump’s presidency and does not specify how many children arrived during each administration. Experts caution against drawing premature conclusions about the status of these children based on incomplete data.
ICE spokesperson Carmen Hills stated that the agency agrees with the inspector general’s recommendations to improve information sharing within ICE and externally with HHS but disagreed with the suggestion that the children are missing. ICE generally issues court notices to unaccompanied children after they have been placed with vetted sponsors to provide stability and access to legal help upon release. Definitions of unaccompanied migrant children by the U.S. government include individuals under 18 with no lawful immigration status and no parent or guardian in the country to take custody of them.
The process for unaccompanied migrant children involves transfer to the HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement, placement in a setting that is deemed best for the child, and potential initiation of removal proceedings by ICE and the Department of Justice. Some children may qualify for legal stay in the U.S. through asylum or other forms of immigration relief, in which case removal proceedings may not be initiated. The complexities of the situation highlight the need for improved information sharing and communication among government agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of these children.
