A major shift in immigration enforcement priority puts hundreds of thousands of migrant children in the crosshairs of deportation efforts.

According to NewsNation, the Trump administration has issued an internal memo directing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to locate and deport migrant children who entered the United States without parents or guardians, significantly expanding the administration's mass deportation initiative.

The internal document, obtained and reviewed by Reuters, outlines a phased implementation approach beginning with planning on January 27. More than 600,000 unaccompanied minors have crossed the southern border since 2019, with tens of thousands already facing deportation orders. The initiative particularly targets children deemed "flight risks," including those who missed court hearings or were released to sponsors who aren't blood relatives, according to the memo reviewed by Reuters.

Controversial policy follows history of family separations

This latest directive follows Trump's controversial "zero tolerance" policy from his first term, which separated migrant children from their parents at the border. The separations, including infants taken from nursing mothers, sparked international condemnation before Trump halted the practice in 2018.

The new initiative sorts unaccompanied minors into three priority categories: "flight risk," "public safety," and "border security." ICE field offices will determine specific enforcement strategies for locating and serving immigration documents to these children.

The memo states the initiative aims not only to enforce immigration laws but also to ensure children aren't victims of human trafficking or exploitation. Children targeted could receive notices to appear in immigration court or face immediate deportation if orders already exist against them.

New vetting measures and expanded database access

Since taking office on January 20, the Trump administration has implemented stricter vetting requirements for sponsors of unaccompanied minors. New guidance issued last week mandates that sponsors and adult household members submit fingerprints for background checks.

The administration has also expanded its access to the Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) database containing information about children and their sponsors. Mellissa Harper, a former ICE official who now heads ORR, reportedly told staff that the agency plans to use DNA tests to establish familial relationships.

During a staff meeting, Harper indicated that ICE is pursuing 247,000 tips related to fraud, trafficking, and smuggling of unaccompanied minors. Cases are being referred to the FBI for further investigation, according to one source familiar with the matter.

Border czar claims and enforcement implications

Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, has repeatedly asserted that approximately 300,000 unaccompanied children "went missing" during the Biden administration and face risks of trafficking and exploitation. The ORR was not previously required to track children's whereabouts beyond initial follow-up calls after they left custody.

Since many of these children live in households with adults who lack legal status in the United States, their addresses could help ICE increase overall arrest numbers. During Trump's first administration, data gathered to vet sponsors of unaccompanied children was used to target them for arrests.

Legal experts note that while migrants who have exhausted legal options to remain can be removed regardless of age, the government typically prioritizes arresting adults with criminal records due to limited resources. The memo's implementation represents a significant shift in enforcement priorities.

Unfolding immigration crisis reaches new phase

The number of unaccompanied minors arriving at the U.S. border grew substantially a decade ago, driven by violence and economic instability in their home countries, along with U.S. immigration policies that allowed their entry and often permitted them to stay.

Most of these children come from Central America and Mexico. Many migrated to reunite with parents already in the United States, while others traveled with family members or smugglers. From ORR custody, children are typically released to sponsors as their immigration cases proceed.

Why This Story Matters

This enforcement strategy not only addresses illegal immigration but underscores the administration's commitment to combatting child exploitation. By focusing on identified vulnerabilities among migrant children, the initiative seeks to mitigate risks associated with human trafficking and ensure the safety and proper care of minors.

Conclusion

The Trump administration has initiated an unprecedented push to track down hundreds of thousands of migrant children who entered the country unaccompanied by parents or guardians. The internal ICE memo revealed by Reuters outlines a four-phase implementation plan that began with planning on January 27.

This initiative expands Trump's mass deportation efforts by specifically targeting children who crossed the border illegally without parents. According to government data, more than 600,000 immigrant children have entered this way since 2019, with tens of thousands already facing deportation orders, including over 31,000 for missing court hearings.

The administration's approach raises questions about the welfare of these children as enforcement actions proceed against this particularly vulnerable population. Many of these children, who originally fled violence and instability, now face additional uncertainty as they become targets of expanded immigration enforcement operations.