Secretary Kristi Noem is spearheading efforts to rescue and protect unaccompanied children who crossed the border and were placed with unvetted sponsors. The Trump Administration has located 13,000 of these children, amid concerns that many were handed over to smugglers and traffickers.
In March 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) identified a backlog of over 65,000 reports regarding unaccompanied minors that were not addressed during the Biden administration. HHS has since established a triage center and updated its software systems to process these reports. As of July 24, 2025, more than 59,000 reports have been analyzed, leading to over 4,000 investigative leads involving fraud, human trafficking, and other crimes.
“The evil of human trafficking cannot be overstated. It’s modern-day slavery," stated Secretary Kristi Noem. "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to eradicate human trafficking operations targeting the United States."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement has taken significant actions in rescuing children:
- On June 16, 2025, during an operation in Mobile targeting employers hiring illegal aliens, a child was rescued by HSI agents.
- On May 28, 2025, HSI New York arrested an Ecuadorian man for sexually exploiting a minor he had smuggled into the U.S.
- On May 12, 2025, HSI Austin rescued a pregnant teenager living with an unrelated adult male sponsor.
- On May 1, 2025, HSI Newark discovered three minors living in poor conditions without attending school.
- On June 24, 2025, HSI Nashville identified victims of labor trafficking forced to work off smuggling fees.
President Trump and Secretary Noem emphasize their commitment to protecting children and working with federal law enforcement agencies for their safety.
