In 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Kristi Noem, officially reported locating over 129,000 unaccompanied migrant children that the Trump administration claims were “lost” or left unmonitored under the Biden-Harris administration.
Key Findings and Actions in 2025
- Locating Missing Children: As of December 2025, the Trump administration stated it had located 129,143 children previously categorized as “unaccounted for”. In July 2025, the administration had reported finding roughly 13,000 children; this number increased significantly as officials analyzed a backlog of reports and digitized paper records.
- Trafficking and Abuse Leads: In mid-2025, DHS revealed it had processed over 59,000 backlogged reports from the previous administration, uncovering more than 4,000 investigative leads related to fraud, human trafficking, and criminal exploitation.
- Methodology: The administration has been searching through immigration records, court logs, and agency files to find these children. New protocols have been implemented, including DNA testing for families and fingerprint checks for all adult household members as a condition of release.
Background on the “Lost” Claims
The figure of 320,000 (often cited as approximately 300,000) stems from an August 2024 DHS Office of Inspector General report, which covered fiscal years 2019 through 2023:
- 291,000 kids had not been served a Notice to Appear (NTA) in court, meaning they lacked a scheduled hearing date to track their location.
- 32,000 kids were served notices but failed to appear for their court dates.
- Vetting Failures: Investigative findings in 2025 alleged the Biden administration released more than 11,000 children to sponsors who were not fingerprinted or background-checked and failed to conduct home studies for over 79,000 children under age 12 where it was recommended.
Policy Shifts
The Trump administration has reversed several policies related to these children, including a March 2025 rule allowing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to share sponsor information with law enforcement for the first time in years. Critics of these new measures have raised concerns that they may prioritize deportation over child welfare, noting a shift toward “self-deportation” options for minors aged 14 and older.
