The Trump administration plans to offer unaccompanied immigrant children aged 14 and older a $2,500 stipend to voluntarily leave the United States, according to a memo obtained by the Guardian. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) memo states that immigration officials have identified minors in government custody who have expressed interest in voluntary departure, and the government will provide a one-time resettlement support stipend in exchange for their departure. Children from Mexico are not eligible for the payment.
The policy marks a significant departure from longstanding immigration protocols. While voluntary departure has always been an option for unaccompanied minors, it typically requires legal consultation and judicial approval. The decision to offer financial incentives for self-removal is unprecedented, according to experts. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the details of the memo in a statement on Friday.
Advocates and legal experts have expressed alarm over the potential exploitation of vulnerable children. Shaina Aber, executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice, said the policy 'seems to fly in the face of established laws and protocols that Congress passed to protect children from cyclical trafficking risks.' Marion 'Mickey' Donovan-Kaloust of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center warned that the $2,500 incentive could 'exploit their unique vulnerabilities as unaccompanied minors in government custody.'
Critics argue the policy pressures children to abandon legal claims and return to dangerous situations. Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, said the 'chaos built into this policy will devastate families and communities – and it is targeted to hurt children.' The administration has previously taken steps to limit legal representation for minors and expedite deportations, including a recent attempt to deport dozens of Guatemalan children who had pending immigration cases.
Unaccompanied minors are placed in federal shelters under the Office of Refugee Resettlement until they can be reunited with vetted family members or foster families. The new incentive program is part of broader efforts to remove immigrant children from the US, which have drawn criticism from members of Congress. This week, Representative Delia Ramirez led a letter to DHS opposing efforts to return immigrant children to their home countries.
