A recent policy update, issued via a July 9 memo from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), now mandates that parents or guardians seeking to reunite with children who entered the United States unaccompanied must participate in in-person interviews for identity and eligibility verification. Previously, this process could be completed online. The update also stipulates that federal law enforcement agencies—including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—may be present during these interviews.
Advocates and legal observers have raised concern that this change may increase the likelihood of parental arrests. They argue that allowing ICE presence at interviews creates “an opportunity” for detentions, which they say has already occurred in several instances. In one cited case, an attending father was arrested, leaving his child in prolonged government custody.
ORR officials, however, state that the intent is to ensure rigorous vetting—verifying that the individual meeting the child is the same person submitting the documentation, thereby promoting safety. They also emphasize that refusal to participate in an ICE interview will not hinder reunification decisions.
Additionally, a related directive, effective July 2, permits ICE to conduct interviews with children at government-maintained shelters. Advocates warn that these sessions may happen with limited notice and without trauma-informed procedures or clear communication of purpose—raising concerns about children’s comprehension and consent.
This update is part of a broader series of measures designed to increase scrutiny in the reunification process, including earlier additions such as fingerprinting, proof of income verification, DNA testing, and home visits. These changes have correlated with a notable rise in the amount of time unaccompanied minors remain in government custody—averaging about 171 days in July, compared to 37 days at the start of the administration.
