Washington:

The administration under President Donald Trump is undertaking a review involving multiple agencies, focused on 450,000 immigrant children who arrived at the US-Mexico border without parents during President Joe Biden’s time in office.

Officials from Trump’s administration claim the goal is to locate and ensure the safety of these children. Many arrived during a surge at the border and were subsequently placed with adult sponsors, typically family members or friends.

However, immigration advocates are skeptical of the methods being employed, as federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI will be visiting these children’s homes. Critics are wary, given Trump’s previous hardline stance on immigration, which has resulted in significant upheaval for young children.

According to Trump officials, there are concerns that not all adult sponsors of immigrant children have been thoroughly vetted, which could lead to potential exploitation. A recent indictment involved a man accused of misleading a 14-year-old girl who traveled from Guatemala to the US under false pretenses.

The review includes plans for home visits and interviews; about 65,000 cases have already been identified since 2023, with a notable number of problematic sponsors. This year, roughly 450 lawsuits have been filed, and details surrounding the review remain confidential, according to senior health and human services officials who discussed the matter off the record.

“We’re examining all reports closely, as safeguarding children is paramount,” a statement from Health and Human Services noted in a social media post. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alluded to this review in a recent cabinet meeting with Trump.

For over a decade, the federal government has allowed adults to sponsor children who cross borders without a parent or legal guardian. Yet, during Biden’s administration, issues arose as authorities struggled to manage the influx. In several cases, this meant inadequate background checks before placing children with sponsors, and some instances involved sponsors using false identification, as a federal watchdog reported last year.

Following this report, the Biden administration stated it was initiating improvements through various means, including training and enhanced oversight.

Despite this, thousands of children have been placed with legitimate sponsors, many of whom are now anxious due to the Trump administration’s review, fearing deportation. The center is tasked with assisting high-risk children crossing the border, and many are placed with family members like parents, grandparents, or cousins. Some children may already reside in the US and arrive separately from their parents.

“Now there’s a situation where the government checks on your child’s welfare, meets undocumented parents, and potentially deports them,” said Flowers, expressing concern about the implications for the children involved.

As of now, roughly 100 children have been taken from their sponsors and placed in private shelters over the past couple of months. In Cleveland, a federal case highlighted a man living illegally in the US who allegedly used a birth certificate to facilitate the arrival of a 14-year-old girl from Guatemala, falsely claiming to be related to her. No verification tests like fingerprinting or DNA checks were conducted.

He has since pleaded guilty to a state charge of sexual assault and is serving an eight-year sentence, facing additional federal charges related to immigration offenses. His attorney declined to comment.

The review’s goal is to track all children placed with sponsors, as officials look into applications flagged as suspicious, particularly those involving “super sponsors.” Reports have surfaced showing law enforcement conducting wellness checks at the homes of unaccompanied minors and their sponsors around the country.

The FBI, in a statement, described the operation as a “national” welfare check, emphasizing that protecting children is a cornerstone of their mission. They intend to collaborate with multiple agencies to ensure these children’s safety.

Yet, there are worries that children may not feel safe disclosing any abuse under the scrutiny of armed officers, especially amid broader deportation efforts.

In Hawaii, Homeland Security agents zeroed in on unaccompanied minors, resulting in the deportation of two families and the return of another child to federal custody. Recently, a lawyer in Northern Virginia documented federal agents visiting homes for welfare checks, questioning families about their immigration status. One child who had entered the US unaccompanied three years prior, now living with an uncle, faced inquiries about their case and the identity of their sponsor.

“It feels like they’re using this as a way to target the kids,” Crane said, mentioning her client’s recent approval for a green card.

The Trump administration is also revamping the sponsorship process by cutting funding for legal aid to vulnerable immigrant children, leaving many without proper representation. New guidelines require sponsors to provide extensive documentation, including fingerprints and income verification, complicating the application process for many who may lack proper documentation.

“These policies effectively trap them in federal custody,” Flowers remarked, highlighting the daunting challenges for sponsors and children alike.