DHS Report Reveals Over 43,000 Migrant Children Unaccounted For After Release

Federal agencies face criticism for failing to track unaccompanied minors, leaving thousands vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.

A DHS Inspector General report confirms ICE cannot monitor the location or safety of tens of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children released to sponsors.
Between 2019 and 2023, over 31,000 children were released to incomplete or unverifiable addresses, raising concerns about trafficking and forced labor.
Over 233,000 children remain without Notices to Appear in court, and more than 43,000 who received notices have missed their court dates as of March 2025.
The majority of unaccompanied minors were released to sponsors in ten states, with Texas, California, and Florida receiving the highest numbers.
The DHS has issued four recommendations to address systemic failures, including improving inter-agency communication and reducing the backlog of unserved court notices.