Donald Trump’s incoming border czar, Tom Homan, has raised alarms about the fate of over 300,000 migrant children, claiming that many have become victims of forced labor and sex trafficking. Homan’s comments echo similar statements made by President-Elect Trump and his allies, including Vice-President-Elect JD Vance.
Experts have criticized these claims, suggesting that they misrepresent statistics to imply that these children are “lost” and in danger. However, there is consensus on the need for reforms in the immigration system.
The Trump administration has prioritized immigration enforcement, pledging to strengthen measures at the U.S.-Mexico border and to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Claims of Missing Migrant Children
In a Fox News interview on November 26, just before visiting the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, Homan accused the Biden administration of boasting about the speed at which children are released from custody without proper vetting of adult sponsors. He stated, “Shame on them,” referring to the Biden administration’s handling of over 300,000 children released to unverified sponsors.
Homan warned that many of these children could end up in forced labor or sex trafficking. Similarly, JD Vance claimed during a debate that the Department of Homeland Security had “effectively lost” around 320,000 migrant children. Concerns for these children’s safety were highlighted when Texas authorities shared an image of a two-year-old girl from El Salvador found at the border holding a piece of paper with a phone number.
Tennessee Republican Representative Mark Green criticized the Biden administration for prioritizing optics over safety, stating that this negligence has left many children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Are the Children Actually Missing?
Immigration experts attribute these alarming claims to an August report from outside the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general’s office. The report indicated that 32,000 unaccompanied minors missed their immigration court dates between 2019 and 2023. Additionally, it noted that 291,000 migrant children received no court notices at all and urged U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take immediate action to ensure their safety.
The report stated that minors who do not appear for court are at a higher risk for trafficking and exploitation. However, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick from the American Immigration Council explained that these figures reflect bureaucratic issues rather than any malicious intent. He emphasized that “missing” does not mean these children are lost; rather, they may simply have missed their court hearings.
Reichlin-Melnick also acknowledged valid concerns about exploitation but cautioned against assuming that all 320,000 children are being trafficked. Eric Ruark from NumbersUSA noted that tracking these children is challenging due to bureaucratic inefficiencies but expressed hope that most are safe with caring sponsors.
Process for Unaccompanied Minors
Unaccompanied minors arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border undergo a complex process starting with detention by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). If they are from countries other than Mexico or Canada, they enter removal proceedings and are transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS then places these children with state-licensed providers and seeks to reunite them with family members or sponsors who must ensure they attend immigration court dates.
Potential Actions by the Trump Administration
So far, Homan and other officials in the incoming Trump administration have not detailed their plans for addressing issues related to undocumented minors. Immigration attorneys suggest that becoming a sponsor for these children may become more difficult under Trump’s leadership, potentially leading to more minors being detained.
Alexander Cuic, an immigration attorney, pointed out that the administration might adopt practices similar to those used during Obama’s presidency by detaining more minors. The controversial “Remain in Mexico” program could also be reinstated for children awaiting immigration proceedings across the border.
When asked about their plans for undocumented migrant children, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team attributed the issue of missing children to “Democrats’ wide-open border policies.” They asserted that President Trump will fulfill his commitment to secure the southern border and protect vulnerable children from harm.
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