The Trump administration has located more than 13,000 unaccompanied migrant minors who went missing under the lax border policies of the Biden administration, according to a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official.
This report, which exposes the failures of the previous administration, reveals that hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied inmigrant minors entered the U.S. and were transferred from ICE to the HHS Refugee Resettlement Office.
However, 233,000 have not received notifications to appear before immigration courts, and until October 2024, more than 43,000 with court orders did not attend their hearings. Additionally, 31,000 release forms for sponsors lacked valid addresses, according to the Inspector General’s office.
Since February, ICE has been searching for these minors, primarily males aged 14 to 17 from Guatemala (32%), Honduras (20%), Mexico (20%), and El Salvador (8%), scattered across several states. In early July 2025, Trump announced the recovery of 10,000 minors, promising to continue locating more, with federal agencies actively working to find them by the thousands.
In addition, ICE has arrested 422 sponsors suspected of child abuse or other crimes, as part of a multifaceted investigation involving federal agencies, local police, and Child Protective Services (CPS).
The immigration policies of the Trump administration have marked a drastic shift from its predecessor. While Biden relaxed sponsor verification protocols, allowing the release of minors to unverified individuals, Trump has implemented strict measures, such as DNA tests to confirm family ties and biometric reviews of sponsors.
These actions aim to dismantle human trafficking networks, including those linked to cartels and gangs like the Tren de Aragua, designated as terrorist organizations by the administration.
This operation marks a decisive victory for the Trump administration in its fight to restore border security and protect migrant minors from exploitation. Trump demonstrates a firm commitment to justice and safety by correcting the catastrophic failures of Biden’s open-border policies.
While the left criticizes, these actions highlight determined leadership that prioritizes the most vulnerable and dismantles criminal networks. The mission continues, and the country watches with hope for a safer future.
About The Author
