On Thursday, October 2, 2025, news began to spread that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), would be rolling out an operation targeting unaccompanied children ages 14 and older, though some sources said children as young as 10 years old might be included. Immigration advocacy organizations received warnings from trusted sources with reliable information that ICE would begin targeting these unaccompanied children with letters threatening indefinite detention if they do not agree to “waive” their rights to protection under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and withdraw their legal cases. The news was spread through social media, reaching DC-based organizations and providers on Friday.
On October 3, Politico picked up the story, reporting that, “the Trump administration is offering $2,500 to some minors who came by themselves to the United States to ‘voluntarily’ self-deport and return to their home countries under a new program quietly rolled out on Friday.” The Politico story states that ICE did confirm that unaccompanied minors would be encouraged to voluntarily self-deport, though the news source notes that the option would be for children that are 17 years old.
An unaccompanied child has no lawful immigration status in the United States, is under 18 years of age, and has no parent or legal guardian in the United States or no parent or legal guardian in the United States is available to provide care and physical custody. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) coordinates care for these children through use of shelters, child welfare residential programs, or long-term foster care placements. Many of these children have filed claims for asylum or other forms of humanitarian immigration status.
Immigration advocates warned that although the new incentive to self-deport was framed as being voluntary, it likely would have a coercive effect, scaring unaccompanied children into choosing to give up their cases. The initial communications from trusted sources also indicated that ICE may threaten to arrest the parents of these unaccompanied children, if they are residing in the United States.
This plan to detain unaccompanied children upon their 18th birthday was quickly challenged in court, with an emergency motion filed by immigration advocacy organizations. On Saturday, October 4th, Judge Rudolph Contreras — an Obama appointee on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia — sided with the American Immigration Council and National Immigration Justice Center, who filed an emergency motion Friday over the new policy, blocking ICE from making changes to how unaccompanied minors are treated when they turn eighteen.
The National Immigrant Justice Center shared this explainer, detailing what is known about the new program and who would be impacted or targeted by DHS. Legal organizations have emphasized that providers and community members can continue to share Know Your Rights information with unaccompanied children. Immigration attorneys recommend that their child/youth clients be reminded to call their immigration attorneys if they receive any letters from immigration authorities. Child/youth clients can also be reminded not to sign anything without talking with an immigration attorney first.
If your organization hears of a child receiving a letter from DHS, please inform the child and their guardians to seek legal advice before signing anything, and notify us or an immigrant rights organization.
