ICE Unable to Account for Missing Children

A recent audit from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lost track of 291,000 unaccompanied children (UCs) who crossed the U.S. border illegally. The report, led by Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, indicated that many of these children did not receive Notices to Appear (NTAs) for their immigration court hearings, increasing their vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation. Between 2019 and 2023, over 32,000 UCs missed scheduled court dates, leaving ICE unable to account for their safety or whereabouts. The issues stem from systemic failures within ICE, including a lack of automated processes for information sharing and insufficient resources for monitoring released children. The findings have raised alarms about the potential risks these children face, with critics emphasizing the urgent need for improved oversight and accountability in immigration processes.