Key Takeaways
• ORR now works closely with ICE, sharing sponsor and child data for enforcement actions instead of prioritizing child protection.
• New rules require U.S. legal residency, DNA tests, and extensive paperwork for sponsors caring for unaccompanied immigrant children.
• ICE officer Mellissa Harper appointed as ORR chief in 2025, signaling a shift towards enforcement over child welfare.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a government agency once known for its humanitarian work, is now drawing close attention for new changes under President Trump’s second term. Many who work for ORR, as well as advocates for immigrant children, have raised concerns about these changes. They believe the agency is starting to take on a role like that of an immigration enforcement agency rather than focusing on care and protection for vulnerable children. Some say this move could harm the safety and well-being of unaccompanied migrant children who need help.
ORR’s Original Mission
For decades, the Office of Refugee Resettlement was created to look after immigrant and refugee children who arrive in the United States 🇺🇸 without a parent or legal guardian. The agency’s core purpose was always simple: give children a safe place, help them find proper sponsors (usually family or friends), and support their health and stability. As explained on the official government site, ORR’s work is meant to be “trauma-informed and strengths-based.” This means they are supposed to consider the difficult experiences these children have had and build upon their strengths as they recover and settle in a new place.
Historically, ORR has been part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It was not designed to be an enforcement agency but instead to support children as they adjusted to life in the United States 🇺🇸. Immigrant children were given shelter and care while ORR found suitable sponsors for them.
A New Direction Under President Trump
Now, many current and former staff members say things are changing quickly. They report that ORR is increasingly working closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They worry this partnership means more focus on tracking, checking, and possibly removing immigrant children and their sponsors, not just helping or protecting them.
According to workers and outside critics, immigration officers are now doing more checks using personal information given to ORR. This information is supposed to help find children’s families or sponsors, but now it’s often used to target these people for arrests or deportation. Those who speak out warn that ORR’s mission is drifting from its original child-centered focus.
Example: Leadership Shift
This change in mission is also clear in the agency’s recent leadership changes. In early 2025, Mellissa Harper, a longtime immigration enforcement officer from ICE, was picked to run the agency. As reported by VisaVerge.com, this is believed to be the first time ever that an ICE official has been put in charge of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Many advocates and agency workers see this as a signal that enforcement and deportation might now take priority over child welfare.
Stricter Rules and Enforcement
New rules have also made it much harder for sponsors—usually family members or close friends—to take in immigrant children. Some of the new measures include:
- ORR no longer accepts identification from other countries unless the sponsor is legally allowed to be in the United States 🇺🇸.
- More family sponsors must now provide DNA samples to prove they are related to the child.
- The agency requires much more paperwork, such as recent pay stubs or tax records, to show sponsors can afford to care for the child.
- ICE officers now have what’s been described as “unfettered access” to the sensitive information and case records ORR keeps on children and their families.
These changes mean that ICE can use ORR’s records to track down immigrant children or their sponsors. For many, this is very different from the agency’s past practices, where the main goal was to keep children safe and protected from harm.
Growing Concerns and Public Pushback
Child advocates and lawmakers are speaking out against these new policies. Some believe the changes could do real harm. They say immigrant children and their sponsors will not seek help or come forward if they are afraid their information will be shared with ICE. This could leave children without safe homes.
Scott Shuchart, a former ICE and Homeland Security official, shared a strong opinion about the recent changes. He said the administration is “trying to use that protective arrangement as a bludgeon to hurt the kids and the adults who are willing to step forward.” This means he believes the agency’s protective systems are now being used against the very people they were designed to help.
Senator Ron Wyden, who leads efforts in the Senate Finance Committee, recently asked ORR to stop giving out private information to ICE. He said this sharing could put immigrant children at risk by scaring potential sponsors away. Without sponsors willing to care for them, children might remain in large government shelters for much longer, or worse, end up in unsafe situations.
Advocates also warn that if sponsors are too scared of deportation, children could be left in unsafe work or living conditions. If families don’t trust that they can safely come forward, children might not get the care or love they need.
Project 2025 Influence
Much of what’s happening now at ORR also matches suggestions from a group called Project 2025. This project is a collection of policy recommendations from conservative and right-leaning groups who hope to reshape how the federal government works.
One big idea from Project 2025 is to move ORR under the Department of Homeland Security, which is the part of the government that includes ICE. Project 2025 claims that having ORR separated from enforcement makes it easier for unaccompanied minors to enter the United States 🇺🇸 illegally. While President Trump has at times said he does not fully support all of Project 2025’s plans, many actions taken by his administration match the project’s suggestions.
The official reason given by the administration for these changes is to prevent child abuse and to stop trafficking of immigrant children. They say stricter checks and sharing information will make sure children are released only to safe adults. However, critics argue that this is a dramatic change that puts enforcement before child protection. They say the main aim now seems to be finding and deporting people, not helping children start better lives.
The Impact on Immigrant Children and Their Families
Before these changes, immigrant children who arrived in the United States 🇺🇸 without parents were usually quickly placed with a suitable relative or family friend as long as they could show some form of ID. The focus was always on finding someone caring and reliable, not just someone with the right paperwork.
Now, things are very different:
- Family members without legal residency or proper U.S. ID documents can no longer become sponsors, no matter how safe and caring they are.
- Stricter vetting means that even U.S. citizens who want to help may face tough and stressful reviews, more paperwork, and DNA tests.
- Because ICE can now access all case files, there is a fear that any family or friends who step forward could be investigated or even deported.
All these factors mean fewer children are being placed with families, and more are stuck for long periods in government-run shelters. These children may struggle with stress, sadness, and uncertainty. Long stays in shelters can also have a negative effect on their emotional health, education, and long-term happiness.
Sponsor Fear and Child Welfare
A big concern is that sponsors now face tough choices. They can try to help immigrant children in their families, but if they do, they risk ICE finding out about their own immigration status. Some sponsors are choosing not to come forward. This leaves children with fewer safe options.
The extra stress can also affect children’s ability to trust adults and can have lasting effects on their well-being. Sponsors worry about sharing very private documents and DNA samples for fear the government might use that information for other purposes. The lack of privacy adds to the fear for both children and the adults trying to help them.
The Ombudsman’s Firing
ORR had recently established its first “ombudsman,” a kind of official watchdog whose job was to make sure the agency followed its rules and treated children fairly. This ombudsman was appointed during President Biden’s term. But the Trump administration suddenly removed him from the job.
Many advocates and workers say this was done because the ombudsman was trying to keep the focus on helping children and protecting their rights. With the watchdog gone, they fear there is now no one left inside ORR who will speak up if children’s interests are not being put first.
Immediate and Long-Term Concerns
The shift at ORR brings up immediate problems, but it could have bigger and longer-lasting effects as well.
- Immediate Impact: More children are spending longer in shelters with uncertainty about their futures. They have less chance to reunite with caring adults, especially if those adults have any fear around their own immigration status.
- Long-Term Impact: If these practices continue, it could greatly weaken trust in government agencies that serve immigrant children. Families and communities might be less likely to work with the government in the future if they believe their information could be used against them.
Some experts also fear this shift could hurt the overall safety and happiness of immigrant children for years to come. Without family sponsors, many children could remain in institutional care much longer, which research shows can hurt their mental health and limit their life opportunities.
Differing Opinions
Not everyone agrees about what’s best for immigrant children. The government defends the new rules, saying they make sure only safe, responsible adults can take in children. They say DNA checks and paperwork help prevent children from falling victim to abusive situations or child trafficking.
However, many child advocates, immigration lawyers, and some former officials believe the harms are much greater than the possible benefits. They see the move as a shift away from caring for children—something that was always at the heart of ORR’s mission—to a policy mainly about catching and removing undocumented immigrants.
These different points of view are likely to keep the debate about ORR’s future in the public eye. Lawmakers, courts, and the public will likely have a say in what happens next.
What Happens Now?
For families, sponsors, and immigrant children, these changes mean more challenges and more uncertainty. Many are now turning to legal support and advocacy groups for help. Others are waiting to see if political or legal changes will reverse course and return ORR to its original focus.
If you or someone you know is involved in the care of an immigrant child through ORR’s program, it’s important to stay updated on policy shifts and to seek trustworthy legal advice. You can also visit the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s official website for the latest information and resources.
Summary
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is facing deep changes in purpose and leadership under President Trump’s administration. What was once a safe and caring office for immigrant children now looks much more like an arm of immigration enforcement, with ICE officers involved at the highest levels. New rules for sponsors, increased data sharing, and a move away from child-focused care have caused alarm among many staffers, advocates, and lawmakers. While the government says these changes are for the children’s safety, many believe they risk harming the very people ORR was meant to protect. The debate over ORR’s role, its partnership with ICE, and the safety of immigrant children is likely to remain a major issue for the near future.
Learn Today
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) → A U.S. government agency created to care for refugee and immigrant children arriving without parents or legal guardians.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → A federal enforcement agency focused on arresting and deporting individuals without legal immigration status in the United States.
Sponsor → An adult, usually a relative or trusted individual, who agrees to care for an immigrant child released from government custody.
Project 2025 → A set of policy proposals from conservative groups aiming to restructure federal agencies, including suggested changes to ORR’s role and oversight.
Ombudsman → An independent official appointed to monitor and ensure fair treatment and rule compliance within an organization, such as ORR.
This Article in a Nutshell
Once known for aiding immigrant children, the Office of Refugee Resettlement is now criticized for prioritizing enforcement over care. New leadership, tighter vetting, and cooperation with ICE have alarmed advocates. These changes could deter families from helping, leaving children in shelters longer and heightening risks to their safety and well-being.
— By VisaVerge.com
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