The Trump administration has reportedly located more than 13,000 unaccompanied minors who entered the U.S. illegally and were lost to government tracking under Joe Biden.
The effort comes amid a sweeping overhaul of immigration enforcement, with President Donald J. Trump prioritizing the return of migrant children and illegal aliens to their countries of origin.
.@POTUS: Something you haven’t reported — 300,000 migrant children went missing under Biden. We’ve already gotten back 10,000 — and we have a lot more planned to get back. pic.twitter.com/W6bM7Tfymq
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 11, 2025
ICE Arrests 400 Child Sponsors for Abuse, Exploitation
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), over 400 sponsors of unaccompanied minors have been arrested for abuse, neglect, or other crimes.
A Health and Human Services official told NewsNation that the arrests stemmed from widespread mistreatment of migrant children entrusted to sponsors — many of whom were not properly vetted during the Biden years.
300,000 Children Lost Under Biden
The Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General confirmed that more than 300,000 unaccompanied minors crossed the border and disappeared under Biden’s watch — with the government losing all contact or oversight.
President Trump blasted the previous administration earlier this month:
“Something that you should have that you haven’t reported — 300,000 children are missing under Biden. We’ve already gotten back 10,000, and we have a lot more planned to get back,” he said on July 11.
Trump Admin Offers Self-Deportation Option to Migrant Teens
The Trump administration has authorized Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to begin offering voluntary self-deportation to unaccompanied alien children (UACs) between the ages of 14 and 17.
If the minor agrees, they are transferred to ICE or HHS to begin repatriation proceedings.
While the option existed under previous administrations, it was limited to migrants from Mexico or Canada. The Trump-era “Big Beautiful Bill” now expands this option globally.
“This is a long-standing practice… the only change is expanding it to UACs from additional countries,” a Homeland Security official told CNN.
CBP App Overhauled: $1,000 to Leave, $1,000/Day to Stay
The administration has also revamped the CBP One app, originally created under Biden to facilitate asylum applications.
The new CBP Home app now assists illegal aliens in self-deporting, offering:
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$1,000 cash incentive for voluntary return
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Fines of $1,000/day for those who refuse
Since Trump took office in January, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have voluntarily left the U.S.
Trump: “We’re Getting Them Back by the Thousands”
With over 13,000 children located so far and thousands of adults already gone, the Trump administration says its immigration enforcement strategy is working.
“We’re getting them back by the thousands,” Trump said.
