OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
7:45 AM – Saturday, January 31, 2026
Border Czar Tom Homan announced that 145,000 unaccompanied, undocumented children have been located out of more than 300,000 that were allowed into the United States by the Biden administration.
“The dedicated, talented, and compassionate men and women of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continue to tirelessly to run down hundreds of thousands of leads and work numerous investigations to locate more than 300,000 unaccompanied alien children that the Biden Administration turned over to unvetted sponsors, lost track of, and weren’t looking forward,” Homan wrote on X on Friday. “Through their outstanding efforts, they have so far been able to locate more than 145,000!”
In an online statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shed light on the risks of thousands of unaccompanied children crossing the border as part of its Blue Campaign, a public awareness campaign to educate the public on human trafficking, including how to recognize it and how to respond to it. Its two foundational pillars are: “Prevention of human trafficking and protection of exploited persons.”
“These children often face harrowing journeys—exposed to human traffickers, smugglers, and others who seek to take advantage of their vulnerability,” the DHS stated. “What began as an escape to safety can become a pathway to exploitation.”
The department also outlined the process after an unaccompanied alien child is taken into custody by immigration authorities, explaining that the child is transferred to the ORR, which provides “food, shelter, medical care, and emotional support while working to place the child in a safe, stable home with a vetted sponsor—someone who can care for the child while they await immigration proceedings.”
Sponsors are required to pass a background check and ensure the child attends immigration proceedings.
Despite these serious risks, the Biden administration let hundreds of thousands of children enter the U.S. illegally, a major issue in President Donald Trump’s campaign platform in 2024.
“President Trump promised that we would find these children, and under his strong leadership and with his unwavering support, the patriots at these, and other partner, agencies have been—and will continue to do—just that,” Homan concluded.
Homan’s announcement comes at the end of January, which is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The border czar was also recently deployed to Minnesota to lead ICE operations in the state following two fatal shootings of anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis: Renee Good, who had struck an officer with her car while attempting to flee orders to exit the vehicle, and Alex Pretti, who authorities said had violently resisted while they attempted to disarm him.
At a press conference on Thursday, Homan condemned Democrat politicians who are calling for ICE to leave the state.
“Where were they the last four years, when women and children being sex trafficked reached an all-time high?” he wondered.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below
