The U.S. government has lost track of over 32,000 unaccompanied children, raising grave concerns about their safety, particularly regarding risks of trafficking and exploitation.
DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari emphasized that unaccompanied children missing their court dates face heightened risks of trafficking and forced labor, necessitating immediate action from ICE.
A total of 448,000 unaccompanied children were taken into custody and released between 2019-2023, but the DHS warns that there are likely many more unaccounted minors.
Problems stem from a lack of communication between agencies involved, with ICE failing to update data and communicate court appointments, which puts minors at further risk.
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