Tom Homan Announces 145,000 Missing Migrant Children Located, Cites 300,000 ‘Lost’ Under Previous Administration
Border Czar Tom Homan announced that federal authorities have successfully located 145,000 unaccompanied migrant children who were previously unaccounted for, marking a significant development in the current administration’s enforcement operations. Homan contrasted these findings with statistics from the Biden-Harris administration, stating, “The previous administration brought in over 500,000 unaccompanied kids, handed them to unvetted sponsors, and lost track of 300,000. Under President Trump, 145,000 have already been located.”
Background on the “Lost” 300,000
Homan’s reference to “300,000” missing children aligns with a staggering report released by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) in August 2024. That audit revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could not monitor the location and status of approximately 291,000 unaccompanied migrant children (UCs) because they had not been served Notices to Appear (NTAs) for immigration court.
The report further detailed that an additional 32,000 children had failed to appear for their scheduled court hearings. The OIG warned at the time that without the ability to monitor these minors, ICE had “no assurance UCs are safe from trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor.” The audit highlighted that the transfer of custody from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to sponsors—often family members or distant relatives—lacked sufficient mechanisms for follow-up by immigration enforcement.
Enforcement vs. Administrative Definitions
While the recovery of 145,000 minors is presented as a major security success, the classification of these children as “lost” has been a subject of intense debate. Immigration advocates and officials from the previous administration have previously argued that the term “lost” is misleading. They contend that many of these children were released to sponsors who simply moved without updating their addresses or were caught in a backlog of administrative paperwork, rather than being physically missing or victims of trafficking.
Critics of the strict enforcement approach argue that aggressively locating these children could disrupt reunified families or lead to the deportation of minors who have established lives in the U.S. The American Immigration Council and other advocacy groups have previously emphasized that the lack of court appearances is often due to confusion over the complex legal system rather than an intent to evade authorities.
Current Operations
Homan rejected the “administrative error” defense, characterizing the situation as a humanitarian and national security failure. By stating that 145,000 have been “located,” the current administration signals a shift toward active interior enforcement, prioritizing the physical verification of these minors’ whereabouts. The announcement suggests a coordinated effort between ICE, HHS, and other federal agencies to close the gaps identified in the 2024 OIG audit.
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