The Trump administration has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to track down and deport migrant children who entered the U.S. without their parents.

An internal ICE document, called the “Unaccompanied Alien Children Joint Initiative Field Implementation,” states that the policy aims to protect children from human trafficking and exploitation.

Since 2019, over 600,000 migrant children have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border alone, according to government data. ICE has divided these children into three groups:

• Flight Risk – Children likely to avoid immigration hearings
• Public Safety Risk – Children who may pose a danger
• Border Security Risk – Children flagged for security reasons

Agents have been told to focus on those classified as “flight risks,” especially those who missed court hearings and already have deportation orders.

Some officials and advocates worry about how this policy will affect children. Wendy Young, President of Kids in Need of Defense, says the government should work with legal groups to help children understand their rights before deciding whether they need protection or should be sent back.

This decision follows Republican claims that the Biden administration lost track of 300,000 migrant children. However, experts argue that this number lacks proper context.

With thousands of unaccompanied minors still in the U.S., this policy could have a major impact on immigration enforcement and child protection.