Bloomberg Law reported that ICE attorneys and, in some cases, immigration judges have presented the payments to children in removal proceedings. Legal advocates said some minors lack attorneys and have been given little or no time to consider the consequences before accepting.
The new offers expand a program introduced last year that provided $2,500 to unaccompanied migrant children ages 14 and older who agreed to leave the country.
Immigration attorneys argue that offering thousands of dollars to young children raises serious questions about whether they can meaningfully understand or voluntarily waive their legal rights. Shaina Aber of the Acacia Center for Justice described the approach as part of an effort to pressure children into dropping their cases.
The Department of Homeland Security has characterized voluntary departure programs as a way to help migrants return home, but it did not directly address questions about payments to children as young as 5.
The policy comes amid a sharp increase in immigration enforcement involving minors. Federal records analyzed by The Marshall Project show that more than 22,000 children have been deported since Trump returned to office, while ICE has arrested more than 8,500 children during his second term.
Sources:
- Truthout – MBFC Rating
- Bloomberg Law – Unrated
- The Marshall Project – MBFC Rating
- NBC News – MBFC Rating
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