Thousands of Migrant Kids Lost by ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly lost track of over 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children (UCs) in the past five years, according to a recent internal report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report, titled "Management Alert - ICE Cannot Monitor All Unaccompanied Migrant Children Released from DHS and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Custody," was submitted to Congress on Tuesday. It highlights significant gaps in ICE's ability to monitor the location and status of UCs after their release from government custody. The internal watchdog's findings indicate that between fiscal years 2019 and 2023, ICE transferred more than 448,000 UCs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). However, many of these children failed to appear for their scheduled immigration court hearings, raising concerns about their safety and legal status. The report emphasizes that ICE has struggled to keep track of these minors, with a substantial number unaccounted for after their release. Despite new guidance aimed at improving oversight and coordination with HHS, the report criticizes ICE for not consistently following these protocols. The Inspector General, Joseph Cuffari, noted that the situation could be even more dire, as approximately 291,000 UCs have not been marked for removal proceedings due to ICE's failure to schedule court dates and serve necessary notices. The findings have intensified scrutiny on DHS and ICE, as the agencies grapple with the challenges of managing a significant influx of migrants from South America, leading to concerns about the welfare of vulnerable children in their care.