Rosen, Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Treatment of Unaccompanied Children

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined ten of her colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, and the Director of the Justice Department's Executive Office of Immigration Review Daren Margolin, urging the Trump administration to halt misguided enforcement actions against minors and instead develop policies aimed at protecting them.

"Since assuming office, the Trump administration has systematically targeted unaccompanied children for removal. Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) went to the extreme length of attempting to remove a group of unaccompanied minors to Guatemala in the dead of night without a shred of due process," wrote the Senators. "The Administration has also detained unaccompanied children in growing numbers, sent enforcement officials to the homes of children released from custody, lured children with payments to self-deport, and fined minors with hefty fees. The Administration's cruel actions have gravely imperiled immigrant children and exacerbated fear among an already sensitive group. We write to urge you to halt misguided enforcement actions against minors, follow the law, and implement policies aimed at protecting this vulnerable community."

"Unsurprisingly, this Administration is breaking records for the deportation of young children. In April 2025, more than 8,000 children age 11 or under received a removal order-the highest monthly number in over 35 years.14 And in the first six months of the Administration, nearly 15,000 children under the age of four were ordered deported.15 The vast majority of these children did not have legal representation," the Senators continued. "To make matters worse, the Administration has sought repeatedly to terminate the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement, which sets minimum standards for the humane treatment of children in custody. It is unconscionable that this Administration believes that children belong behind bars and should be stripped of protections that ensure access to food, water, and other necessities while in detention."

"It has become clear that the Administration is engaged in a coordinated, multi-pronged effort to target unaccompanied minors and their families," the Senators concluded. "These ill-advised actions are causing irreparable harm and trauma to vulnerable children. It needs to stop now."

Read the full letter HERE.

Senator Rosen has been outspoken about her efforts to push back on misconduct from Trump Administration officials implementing the President's mass deportation agenda. Earlier this month, she called for the impeachment of Kristi Noem and committed to voting against additional funding for ICE until significant reforms are enacted. Last year, she helped introduce the Protect Sensitive Locations Act, which would provide commonsense protections against immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and churches. She also strongly denounced the Trump Administration for revoking a previously authorized TPS extension for immigrants from Venezuela. Additionally, Senator Rosen helped introduce legislation that would prohibit ICE officers and other federal immigration agents from concealing their identity during routine immigration enforcement operations.

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