U.S. officials locate 146,000 unaccompanied migrant children

The Trump administration announced Thursday that it has located 146,000 unaccompanied migrant children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border during the Biden administration and were later released to sponsors. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the figure marks a sharp increase from the 22,000 children located by last summer.

They stated the government is still searching for nearly 300,000 additional children.

Background on prior placements Under the Biden administration, more than 500,000 unaccompanied children entered the country, according to the report. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement placed the children with sponsors after required court proceedings.

A 2023 New York Times report stated former President Joe Biden lost track of 88,000 children. A February 2024 audit by the HHS Office of Inspector General found that 22 percent of children did not receive timely well-being calls, 16 percent of case files lacked proof of sponsor safety checks, and 19 percent were released before FBI fingerprint and state registry results were received.

Mullin said the government is investigating cases involving sponsors who used the same address for multiple children and reports of trafficking. They announced indictments against three Guatemalan adults accused of trafficking more than a dozen children.

Since early 2025, sponsors have been required to provide valid identity documents, undergo fingerprint checks, and submit to DNA testing when claiming a family relationship. Officials said in-person home visits are now conducted before any child is released.