Unaccompanied Children: Policies, Oversight and Legislation

Chapter 1 examines the Trump administration's care for unaccompanied children in government custody and the impact of administration policies on the health and wellbeing of children. Chapter 2 describes failures in HHS's processes to ensure the safety of children in the care of the federal government and safeguard $32,125,779 in taxpayer funds. The Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) grant announcements solicit care providers for unaccompanied children. Chapter 3 examines (1) how ORR considers state licensing issues and past performance in its review of grant applications; (2) state licensing agencies' oversight of ORR grantees, and how ORR and states share information; and (3) how ORR addresses grantee noncompliance. Legislation on unauthorized childhood arrivals dates to 2001. Most measures on unauthorized childhood arrivals that have seen legislative action have proposed mechanisms for eligible individuals to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs), typically through a two-stage process. Chapter 4 considers House and Senate measures on unauthorized childhood arrivals that have seen legislative action, focusing in particular on legislation considered in the 115th and 116th Congresses. It also discusses the related Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative and DACA-related data.