OIG Report Reveals ICE’s Monitoring Gaps for Released Unaccompanied Migrant Children
DHS’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can’t fully monitor unaccompanied migrant children (UACs) after DHS and HHS release them. The audit, titled “ICE Cannot Effectively Monitor the Location and Status of All Unaccompanied Alien Children After Federal Custody,” found problems with tracking UACs and coordinating with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The report gives specific recommendations to improve systems and processes, and it includes ICE’s responses.
Key Audit Findings
The OIG’s final report, dated March 25, 2025, determined that ICE can’t effectively monitor the location and status of all UACs once agencies release them from federal custody. From fiscal years 2019 to 2023, ICE transferred over 448,000 UACs to HHS within the Department of Homeland Security. Most of these children were later released to sponsors. However, the audit found major gaps in the tracking process:
- More than 31,000 children had blank, undeliverable, or missing apartment numbers in their release addresses.
- As of January 2025, ICE had not served Notices to Appear (NTAs) on more than 233,000 UACs, which means they had not been placed in removal proceedings.
- As of October 2024, over 43,000 UACs who received NTAs didn’t show up for their scheduled court dates.
The OIG found that ICE often did not know the location of UACs who fled HHS custody. It also did not consistently receive notification of a child’s status unless someone reported abuse or a tip. The OIG’s report says that without the ability to monitor these children, ICE cannot ensure they are safe from exploitation or trafficking. This is a significant concern for the Department of Homeland Security.
Reasons for the Deficiencies and Agency Response
The audit identified multiple reasons for ICE’s tracking problems. A main reason was the lack of an accurate or automated system for sharing information between agencies. The report revealed that ICE field offices used “manual workarounds” such as spreadsheets and emails to track UACs. The OIG also noted a 2021 agreement between DHS and HHS had removed rules for sponsor vetting and information sharing, impacting the Department of Homeland Security’s effectiveness.
The OIG’s report included four recommendations to improve ICE’s monitoring. In a formal response, ICE agreed with all four. The agency said it has been taking steps to automate information sharing for children’s court attendance. It plans to continue improving these processes and to implement the OIG’s recommendations. The OIG’s findings expose significant vulnerabilities in the current system, underscoring the urgency of the matter and the risks a vulnerable population faces after release from federal custody, highlighting challenges for the Department of Homeland Security.
