CV NEWS FEED // The internal watchdog of The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has sounded the alarm over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s inability to track over 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children, raising fears of exploitation and trafficking.
An interim report from the DHS, sent to Congress on August 20 and obtained by ABC News, reveals that over the past five years, more than 32,000 unaccompanied minors failed to appear for their immigration court hearings and ICE has been unable to track their whereabouts.
ICE is responsible for ensuring the timely and safe transfer of these children to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which then places them in shelters or with sponsors.
However, the report indicated that ICE has struggled to monitor their location and status after release.
The report also notes that tens of thousands of children are not placed into removal proceedings due to delays in issuing notices to appear or scheduling court dates, potentially increasing the number of minors who fail to show up for court.
According to the interim report, immigration court hearings frequently serve as ICE’s sole chance to detect signs of trafficking or other safety issues in unaccompanied migrant children. Consequently, the report states, when ICE fails to issue notices to appear or set court dates, it diminishes their ability to ensure the children’s safety and raises fears about their vulnerability to trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor.
Additionally, when unaccompanied migrant children miss multiple court appearances, federal judges are eventually forced to issue deportation orders, according to ABC.
ABC reports that the watchdog has recommended that ICE implement an automated system to track court appearances and maintain address information for these children. While ICE has agreed to consider this recommendation, it has also expressed concerns that the report may not fully capture the structural challenges involved in tracking these minors.
