A ProPublica investigation found rising removal actions against unaccompanied immigrant minors as families face growing uncertainty over immigration courts, legal protections, and the future of their children.
During President Donald Trump’s second term, immigrant children and young people have faced a significant increase in immigration enforcement actions. A ProPublica investigation found that unaccompanied immigrant minors are being detained and removed at about three times the rate seen during the final years of Trump’s first presidency. The investigation also found that immigration courts have issued removal or voluntary departure orders for minors at a much higher monthly rate than during the previous Trump administration.
Many of these children entered the United States alone and were placed into immigration proceedings. Some had previously benefited from policies designed to give minors more time to seek legal protections, obtain legal assistance, or pursue options to remain in the country. Under Trump’s second-term immigration policies, some of those protections have been reduced or challenged, increasing the risk that children’s cases move toward removal more quickly.
The increase has affected not only children who entered alone but also families with children. When parents are detained or deported, U.S.-born children and immigrant children can experience separation, uncertainty, and disruption to their daily lives. ProPublica reported that removals involving parents of U.S. citizen children increased during the early months of Trump’s second term compared with a similar period under the previous administration.
The Trump administration says stronger enforcement is necessary to address illegal immigration and protect the border. Critics argue that faster removals of immigrant children can limit access to legal protections and place vulnerable young people at greater risk.
Behind the statistics are children navigating a complex immigration system while trying to continue their education, live with family members, and build a future in the United States.
