The Trump team has been addressing the border crisis. But there’ much work to do.
And the Trump Department of Homeland Security’s had to break terrible news no one wanted to hear.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that over 230,000 unaccompanied minors were released into the United States during the Biden administration and are currently unaccounted for. DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari testified before the House Oversight Committee, stating that 31,000 of these children were sent to invalid U.S. addresses. He also highlighted that sponsors receiving these minors were not adequately vetted prior to their release.
The committee met to evaluate a March 2025 DHS report, which revealed significant shortcomings in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) ability to monitor unaccompanied minors in the U.S. Cuffari emphasized that these gaps exposed critical weaknesses in oversight.
“This is not simply an administrative problem,” Cuffari said. “It’s a systemic breakdown that poses grave risks to unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and the integrity of our legal immigration system.” The DHS report noted that over 43,000 minors failed to appear for court hearings and are now untraceable by ICE, increasing their risk of trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor.
“The findings are a double-edged sword,” Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said during the hearing. “While some vulnerable children have likely been trafficked, exploited and subject to forced labor, the report also found other older teens that were convicted criminals and gang members.”
Cuffari reported that in February, ICE formed a team of special agents to locate these missing minors and conduct welfare checks. The team has visited 50,000 homes so far in an effort to find 200,000 children.
Democrats on the committee criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies, arguing that DHS had unfairly targeted children for deportation. “Are these little kids the dangerous criminals Trump vowed to go after?” Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., said.
The hearing is the first in a series aimed at addressing DHS’s past failures, improving tracking of unaccompanied minors, and enhancing coordination between DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Biden Administration’s Border Failures and Trump’s Response
The Biden administration’s handling of the southern border has faced widespread criticism for its mismanagement, particularly regarding unaccompanied minors and national security. A March 2025 DHS report exposed that over 230,000 unaccompanied minors were released into the U.S. and subsequently lost, with 31,000 sent to invalid addresses and sponsors inadequately vetted. This has raised serious concerns about the safety of these children, many of whom are at risk of trafficking or exploitation.
The border crisis escalated under Biden, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reporting over 145,000 encounters with unaccompanied minors in 2021, a significant spike from prior years. The decision to end policies like the “Remain in Mexico” program aimed for a more compassionate approach but led to overwhelmed facilities and inadequate vetting processes, leaving children vulnerable. A 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report further criticized DHS for weak migrant screening, citing outdated technology and limited resources.
National security risks also grew during Biden’s tenure. CBP data indicates encounters with individuals on terrorist watchlists at the southern border jumped from 15 in 2020 to 98 in 2022, showing vulnerabilities that could allow threats to enter undetected. The Biden administration’s inconsistent deportation policies struggled to address both humanitarian needs and public safety, as some unaccompanied minors were identified as older teens with criminal or gang ties.
Since President Donald Trump took office in 2025, his administration has taken decisive steps to address the border chaos inherited from Biden. ICE’s formation of a special agent team in February 2025 to locate 200,000 missing minors, with 50,000 homes visited so far, demonstrates a proactive approach to resolving the crisis. The Trump administration has prioritized strengthening vetting processes and enhancing coordination between DHS and HHS, addressing the systemic failures outlined in the DHS report.
President Trump’s policies aim to restore order and security at the border while protecting vulnerable populations. The administration’s efforts to bolster CBP resources and improve screening technology are steps toward mitigating national security risks, earning praise for tackling the challenges left by its predecessor.
