What happens to unaccompanied minors who enter the US illegally? An in-depth look.

Illegal Immigration and the Need for Influx Care Facilities

With thousands of people entering the United States illegally, every town is a potential border town faced with absorbing large influxes of illegal immigrants who will need food, shelter, clothing, and money. Some are bused to large cities far from the border, some have been flown—often in the middle of the night—to a myriad of destinations.

Unaccompanied Minors

Many of these illegal immigrants are unaccompanied minors—age 17 and under—and although the government has 296 “Influx Care Facilities” located in 27 states to house such minors, it does not make clear precisely where the minors are sent.

When unaccompanied minors illegally cross into the United States and are apprehended by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they are transferred to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which is legally required to provide care for all unaccompanied children referred to it while their claims to immigration are processed, or until they are placed with a sponsor, which may be a parent or relative.

To be considered an unaccompanied child, they must have no lawful immigration status in the United States, be under 18 years old, and have no parent or legal guardian in the United States available to provide care and physical custody.

More Space Needed

As of May 5, there were 8,790 children in ORR care across the United States, but many more are expected with the ending of Title 42 on May 11.

“While ORR has worked to build up its licensed bed capacity, additional capacity is urgently needed to manage the increasing numbers of unaccompanied children referrals from DHS,” ORR said in a May 5 statement on its website.

“In preparation for the potential need for additional beds and to provide services and care that align with child welfare best practices, HHS opened several Influx Care Facilities (ICFs).

“ORR operates a network of 296 facilities/programs in 27 states and has a proven track record of accountability and transparency for program operations, as well as being a good neighbor in the communities where facilities are located,” the ORR said.

But when The Epoch Times asked for a list of those facilities and states, neither the ORR nor the Department of Health and Human Services provided it.

Planned Facilities

A future facility in Greensboro, North Carolina, is mentioned on the ORR website. The future Greensboro Piedmont Academy will provide shelter for boys and girls, 13 to 17 years old, and has a capacity of up to 800 beds. But no children are in care there yet, the statement said, and an opening date has not been determined. When open, the academy will provide education, housing, mental health, medical, and case management.

Facility Requirements

Specifically, ICFs for unaccompanied minors must provide clean and comfortable sleeping quarters, meals, toiletries, laundry, educational and recreational activities, and access to medical services. Minors are tested for COVID-19 before being transported to the facility and every three days while in care. They are given medical screenings and any follow-up care needed for any injuries or illnesses, according to ORR.

Concerns

“I would not want one of these facilities in my neighborhood because regardless of whether the kids commit any crimes, it’s a magnet for criminals. They attract everything from gangs to human traffickers,” Matthew O’Brien, director of investigations at the Immigration Reform Law Institute, told The Epoch Times.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and members of his office have been contacted by local leaders and residents expressing their objections to such a facility.

“There is a lot of concern from community members in North East about the prospect of an unaccompanied migrant facility in their town. We understand the talks between property owners and local officials remain ongoing and that it’s not a done-deal just yet,” Matt Knoedler, Kelly’s spokesman told The Epoch Times.

“So far, Representative Kelly and our staff remain in communication with all parties involved to remain up-to-date about the project’s future. We met with local officials and the property’s owners last week to learn more about the future of the project and what the impact of that project may be on the North East community.

“Many residents remain concerned about a repeat of what happened in Erie County in 2021. when a group of nearly 150 migrant children were suddenly placed in an emergency intake site without first telling community members or even Representative Kelly. It appears the 2021 case is fresh in the minds of North East residents as the debate over this new proposed facility continues.”

Granite Ridge did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

Not All Minors

Between 2012 and 2022, unaccompanied minors entering the United States each year were mostly teenage boys from Guatemala, ORR statistics show. In 2022, the ORR received 128,904 minors from the Department of Homeland Security. Of those, 47 percent were from Guatemala, followed by 29 percent from Honduras, 13 percent from El Salvador, 3 percent from Mexico, and 8 percent from all other countries.

Last year 36 percent of captured unaccompanied minors were female and 64 percent were male; 15 percent were aged 12 or under, 13 percent were aged 13-14, 36 percent were aged 15-16, and 36 percent were 17 or older.