Texas Democratic members of Congress have raised alarm that the federal government may be relocating unaccompanied migrant children to Texas to expedite removals.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal has introduced Orlin’s Law—named for a 3-year-old who was murdered after his mother was deported without him despite her request that he accompany her—demanding accountability from DHS and ICE as family separations continue.
A Honduran woman who spent nearly a year completing vetting requirements to sponsor her niece and nephew from federal shelter was arrested by ICE in the process—highlighting how the Trump administration’s changes to the sponsorship system are deterring relatives from coming forward to care for unaccompanied children.
The Trump administration ended federal legal representation for more than 20,000 unaccompanied children on July 31, leaving these kids to face fast-tracked deportation hearings without attorneys.
A new DHS public charge rule taking effect September 18 is expected to deter immigrant families—including millions of eligible U.S. citizen children—from accessing healthcare, nutrition assistance, and other essential benefits they are legally entitled to receive.
The Migration Policy Institute is hiring a Research Assistant for its U.S. Immigration Policy Program in Washington, DC—applications are due August 24.
ISS-USA is celebrating 100 years of supporting cross-border families with an afternoon symposium and evening reception bringing together child welfare, immigration, legal, and social service professionals to explore the future of cross-border practice and services for families.
This report examines how family separation is occurring across the U.S., identifies gaps in government data that hinder reunification efforts, and offers child- and family-centered policy and practice recommendations for protecting family unity while enforcing immigration law.
Dr. Kristina Lovato presented her research, “Building the Capacity to Serve Unaccompanied Immigrant Transitional-Age Youth During the Transition to Adulthood from Out-of-Home Care,” as part of the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) Emerging Scholars Program at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. The presentation highlighted challenges unaccompanied immigrant transition-age youth face navigating adulthood amid shifting federal policies, and offered recommendations for strengthening child welfare, legal, and community-based support systems in light of reduced protections, including the termination of Deferred Action for SIJ status holders.
© 2026 CICW.