Senator Alleges New Deportation Plans for Migrant Children
WASHINGTON (AP) — Concerns have been raised by a Democratic senator regarding the Trump administration’s alleged plans to expedite the deportation of 500 migrant children, potentially bypassing existing legal protections. This would mark a second attempt after a previous deportation effort was halted by a federal court last year during Labor Day weekend.
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon has written to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claiming to have “credible information” about the administration’s intentions to rapidly deport these children. Wyden criticized the plans, suggesting they undermine “core humanitarian and child welfare mandates,” and urged an immediate cessation of any such actions.
As the senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Wyden did not disclose his sources, and further details were not provided by his office. The ORR, responsible for the welfare of unaccompanied migrant children, operates under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
An HHS spokesperson, however, denied any such plans, describing Wyden’s claims as “irresponsible fearmongering.” Emily Hilliard stated, “The Trump Administration is working to identify the parents or legal guardians of unaccompanied alien children in our care because ensuring every child is placed with a properly vetted sponsor is our top priority.”
Previous Deportation Efforts in 2025
Last year, around Labor Day, a similar deportation attempt involved removing Guatemalan children from government-supervised shelters and foster care to be flown back to Guatemala. This plan was stopped overnight by a federal judge. Lawyers representing the children later highlighted the distressing experience, with some children reportedly “crying, praying, vomiting,” and showing long-lasting trauma, according to Lauren Fisher Flores of the American Bar Association’s ProBar project.
The administration defended its actions, claiming it was reuniting children with their families at the request of the Guatemalan government, a claim disputed by some of the children’s lawyers who argued that legal processes were not followed.
Legal Protections for Migrant Children
Under U.S. law, unaccompanied migrant children are provided with several protections. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 mandates that children be placed in the “least restrictive setting possible,” often with a relative in the U.S., while their immigration status is resolved. These children can also seek asylum or a special protected status if returning to their home country poses risks of abuse or neglect.
However, the Trump administration has implemented stricter measures for releasing these children to sponsors, citing past instances where children were released into unsafe environments. Critics argue that these measures have resulted in prolonged stays for children in government shelters.
Wyden noted that the current group of children at risk of deportation includes nationals from countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Afghanistan. These children have been in U.S. custody for over 180 days and lack a viable sponsor in the U.S., which could be due to parents being in their home countries, deceased, or too afraid to come forward due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities.
