International News: Thousands of migrant children’s sponsors arrested after information shared with ICE

By Zoila Palma:  Thousands of migrant children and their sponsors have been caught up in U.S. immigration enforcement after the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) shared information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to internal government data reviewed by Reuters.

More than 12,000 people have reportedly been arrested following tips from ORR during President Donald Trump’s second term.

The ORR, established in 1980 to assist refugees, also oversees unaccompanied migrant children who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. Under longstanding policy, the agency’s work was largely separated from immigration enforcement, allowing children to be released to parents or relatives without fear that sponsors would be targeted for immigration violations.

That approach has shifted significantly under the Trump administration. Since January 2025, ORR has reportedly shared more than 460,000 leads with ICE involving unaccompanied children, their sponsors and other household members.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the information has been used to identify potential investigative leads involving children placed with sponsors who may have criminal records or were considered unvetted.

The policy change has raised concerns among immigration advocates and former government officials, who say the sharing of information has undermined trust in the child welfare system.

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