The recent decision to grant Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers access to a database on unaccompanied children who crossed into the United States is raising concerns among child welfare advocates. This move aligns with policies from the Trump administration that were reversed by the current administration.
In an internal communication obtained by ECNETNews, the acting director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) indicated that these changes are part of an effort to foster a culture prioritizing child safety and accountability. However, advocates fear that this access will be misused for immigration enforcement targeting families who take in these children.
Sources close to the matter revealed that the database maintained by ORR has reopened to ICE oversight under interim leadership. This change follows the recent assignment of an ICE official to a federal role within ORR. Unlike many immigration agencies, ORR operates under the Department of Health and Human Services rather than the Department of Homeland Security.
The Biden administration previously revoked measures that allowed ORR and DHS to share biometric and immigration status information about unaccompanied children and their sponsors, aiming to protect vulnerable populations.
In the email to staff, the acting director emphasized the need for a shift in mindset regarding the sponsor evaluation process, insisting that any justification for fraudulent action is unacceptable.
Tom Homan, a key figure from the Trump administration, suggested that while the initial intent is not to use the collected data for enforcement, future use has not been ruled out. Current statistics from HHS show over 4,000 unaccompanied children are currently in ORR’s care, typically for an average of 36 days.
During the previous administration, agreements between ORR, ICE, and Customs and Border Protection led to the sharing of sensitive information such as arrests and details regarding household members. This practice faced significant pushback from immigrant rights advocates, claiming it hindered the placement and reunification of children with suitable caregivers.
A report from the Congressional Research Service highlighted that from July to November 2018, ICE arrested numerous potential sponsors, many of whom had no prior criminal records, leading to their placement in deportation proceedings.
Homan had previously claimed that a substantial number of unaccompanied children were placed with unvetted sponsors, a statement that advocates and Democrats dispute due to a lack of supportive evidence. Meanwhile, a comprehensive investigation revealed that unaccompanied migrant children remain at risk of labor exploitation.
