US — Immigration judges have ordered the removal of almost 200,000 children from the United States since January 2025. Stephen Miller directs an inter-agency effort involving the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the State Department, and the Department of Defense to locate these children.

More than 1,800 undocumented immigrant children are currently in the custody of federal health officials. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis addressed the situation in a statement.

"The Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the Homeland Security Council are working to locate and rescue these children," Bis said. "We are ensuring these children are reunited with their parents and families in their home countries." U.S. Senator Ron Wyden condemned the administration for violating children’s rights and flouting federal law to hit quotas.

Why It Matters

The scale of removal orders marks a shift in immigration enforcement proceedings involving minors. The data indicates that the rate of judicial orders for child removal has increased since the beginning of 2025, affecting tens of thousands of individuals under the age of 13. The involvement of multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and the State Department, reflects the logistical complexity of locating families abroad and executing these orders.

The United States Homeland Security Council serves as a federal executive public safety, immigration and disaster relief forum, placing this effort within a broader national security framework. The current custody of more than 1,800 undocumented immigrant children by federal health officials reflects the ongoing operational challenges associated with these policies.

Timeline

On June 3, 2024, the President signed a Proclamation under sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act suspending and limiting the entry of certain noncitizens into the United States during emergency border circumstances. DHS and DOJ issued a complementary interim final rule shortly thereafter. Almost 200,000 children have been ordered removed from the US by immigration judges since January 2025. Removal orders for children rose from 7,366 per month in January 2025 to 16,200 in June 2025, 16,750 in July 2025, and 14,744 in August 2025.

What's New

The official record states that almost 200,000 children have been ordered removed from the US by immigration judges since Trump returned to the White House, a doubling of such court orders since January 2025. Stephen Miller serves as White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor since 2025. The Department of Homeland Security terminated the 2021 Designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status.

In March 2025, the United States deported 238 illegal immigrants from Venezuela alleged to be gang members to El Salvador, with 137 deported under the Alien Enemies Act and 101 under regular immigration law.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the details regarding children ordered removed. Federalregister.gov states that the official record shows almost 200,000 children have been ordered removed from the US by immigration judges since Trump returned to the White House, a doubling of such court orders since January 2025. Mobile Pathways research based on Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review data reports that 70% of the more than 200,000 children ordered removed under the second Trump administration were under the age of 13.