ICE is showing up to interview parents hoping to reunite with their children who entered US alone

"The directive also says "federal law enforcement agencies may be present to meet their own mission objectives, which may include interviewing sponsors.""

"Neha Desai, managing director of human rights at the National Center for Youth Law, said the change provides U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a "built-in opportunity" to arrest parents - something she said has already happened."

"Mary Miller Flowers, director of policy and legislative affairs for the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, said she knew of a case in which immigration officers arrested the father of a child under the age of 12 who had shown up for an identification check. "As a result, mom is terrified of coming forward. And so, this child is stuck," Miller Flowers said."

The Office of Refugee Resettlement issued a July 9 directive requiring sponsors who seek to reunite with children to appear in person for identification verification. Sponsors previously could submit identity documents online. The directive states federal law enforcement agencies may be present and may interview sponsors. Advocacy groups report some parents have been arrested when appearing for checks, leaving children in U.S. custody. Officials say the goal is to ensure sponsors are properly vetted. A cited case involved the arrest of a father of a child under 12, which reportedly deterred the mother from coming forward and left the child stuck.

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