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A photo shows a woman holding her child's hand as she walks down a hallway. On the right, ICE masked agents are standing against the wall.

Children in the Immigration System

Each year, the U.S. immigration enforcement system sweeps up thousands of children, from infants to teens. Here are their stories.

Andrea Renault/STAR MAX/IPx, via Associated Press
Analysis
Tracking Trump’s Immigration Crackdown on Children
How many kids has ICE arrested, detained, and deported under the second Trump administration?
By , and
A photo shows a woman in a green dress pushing a stroller with a toddler down a hall. Federal agents, some of whom are masked, stand along the side of the hallway.
Analysis October 8
ICE Has Arrested Twice As Many Children This Year
In total, more than 8,500 kids have been arrested by ICE in Trump’s second term.
By and
A photo shows a woman holding her child's hand as she walks down a hallway. On the right, ICE masked agents are standing against the wall.
Closing Argument August 22
How Trump and ICE’s Latest Tactics Target Immigrant Children
Officials claim to target the “worst of the worst.” But several agencies are now focusing on tracking and detaining children.
By
A photo shows a White woman smiling with her young daughter as they stand in front of a building with a U.S. flag.
News August 18
Parents are Giving Up Green Card Fights to Get Their Kids Out of Immigrant Jail
As children languish in detention, a federal judge sics an independent watchdog on ICE.
By
News June 9
25 Babies and Toddlers Are in ICE Custody on an Average Day
On an average day under Trump, ICE has 25 children aged 3 or younger in custody. In total, at least 500 babies and toddlers have been detained.
By , , Kay Guerrero and Jacob Soboroff
A photo shows a man with medium-toned skin, wearing a baseball cap and a plaid shirt, holding a sign that says, “Save the Kids.” He stands among other protesters who are holding signs. A low bluish building with a gray roof is behind them.
Analysis April 6
ICE Has Detained 6,200+ Kids in Trump’s Second Term, Up 10x Since Biden Left Office
Advocates warn trauma from detentions will cause kids lifelong damage.
By and
Yerson and Kelly Vargas and their 6-year-old daughter, Maria Paula, were deported to Colombia in 2025 after being held in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas.
News March 18
ICE Has Abruptly Deported Thousands of Kids. Their Families Say It Traumatized Them.
Families left behind keepsakes, medicine, pets, cars and homes, sometimes leaving the U.S. with little more than the clothes on their backs.
By , and
A photo shows a woman with medium skin tone and black hair with her head turned toward an open red door. She holds an infant in one arm.
News March 2
The Harrowing Journey Home for Families Leaving Immigration Detention
Parents and children from a detention center in Texas found themselves dropped at a border town shelter with few means to leave.
By , and
Analysis January 29
‘Why Is This Happening to Us?’ Daily Number of Kids in ICE Detention Jumps 6x Under Trump
As the Trump administration detains large numbers of kids, advocates worry ‘it’s only a matter of time before we see a child die.’
By and
A photo shows four people, including two children, walking toward a complex of tan, one-story buildings.
News December 17, 2025
ICE Threw Thousands of Kids in Detention, Many For Longer Than Court-Prescribed Limit
Former immigration staffers argue ICE is choosing to detain families for prolonged periods to speed deportations and compel them to leave.
By and
March 2022 - Del Rio, Texas..Migrants from Venezuela cross the Rio Grande into Del Rio on March 23. They were approached by National Guard from North Dakota and told to walk towards the Border Patrol who were gathering migrants under the bridge for transport.
Feature June 16, 2022
“No Place for A Child”
In cells built for adults, one-third are child migrants. Border authorities have resisted improving conditions for minors in crowded, freezing facilities.
By and
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