^{_{Content: This article includes descriptions of violence; reader discretion advised.}}

In an update on U.S. border security, the Trump administration has tracked down close to 25,000 unaccompanied migrant children who went unaccounted for during the Biden years.

This effort highlights growing concerns over child trafficking and exploitation at the southern border.

Led by Border Czar Tom Homan, the initiative aims to protect vulnerable kids from harm and fix past gaps in tracking.

The news came during a Fox News interview on September 18, 2025.

Homan shared the progress, stressing the human cost behind the numbers. “Many were in sex trafficking. Many were found in forced labor—slavery. I mean forced to work ungodly hours, not going to school.”

He added that while some children were simply hiding with family to avoid deportation, others faced abuse that no child should endure.

The Roots of the Crisis: What Went Wrong Under Biden?

The story starts with a surge in unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

From 2019 to 2024, over 448,000 such children entered U.S. custody, mostly during the Biden administration’s term.

These kids, fleeing poverty or violence in places like Central America, were handed to sponsors—often distant relatives or strangers—by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

But a 2024 report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General exposed serious flaws.

It found that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) failed to issue Notices to Appear in court to about 291,000 children, making it impossible to track them.

Another 32,000 kids missed their court dates, putting them at high risk for trafficking or forced labor.

Poor sponsor vetting was a big issue too—some addresses turned out fake, and follow-up calls went unanswered over 65,000 times from 2023 to early 2025.

Experts warn this setup left kids open to danger.

A New York Times investigation earlier showed over 85,000 children couldn’t be reached just two years into Biden’s term.

Whistleblowers said that some sponsors were traffickers in disguise.

Trump Team Steps Up: From Promises to Action

President Trump made finding these children a key campaign pledge in 2024.

After taking office in January 2025, he tapped Tom Homan—former acting ICE director—as Border Czar to lead the charge.

In March, HHS formed a special task force with FBI agents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and volunteers. They use data analysis, door-to-door checks, and tip lines to hunt leads.

Progress has been steady but tough.

By July 2025, about 10,000 kids were located.

That number hit 22,638 by early September, with over 400 sponsors arrested for abuse.

Sadly, 27 children were found dead—from murder, overdose, or suicide.

Homan called it “the hardest job,” blaming sloppy Biden-era records for the hurdles.

Homan vows no let-up. In a powerful quote from the interview, he said: “We’ve rescued thousands of children and President Trump is committed, I’m committed that we’re not gonna stop looking for these children ’til we find every single one of them or run down the leads on them.” The goal? Locate all 300,000+ from the IG report.

The children that have been rescued, are now either reunited with their parents or family members either in the United States or country of origin (including those previously in hiding to avoid deportation), placed in protective services under HHS custody for further safety assessments.

The Bigger Picture: Trafficking Risks and Reforms

This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about saving lives. Many located children endured rape, beatings, or 12-hour workdays in factories or farms without pay.

HHS now runs an interagency push started in February 2025 to spot fraud and trafficking early.

They’ve also boosted home studies for risky sponsors and tied up with nonprofits for better tracking.

Recent rescues show the stakes.

In June 2025, HSI in Nashville saved a teen girl forced to work off smuggling debts by her sponsor. Another case in New York nabbed a man exploiting a 15-year-old migrant.

These wins tie into Trump’s broader deportation push, which hit 350,000 removals by summer 2025.

Critics note the “missing” label can mislead—many kids are safe with family but off the radar due to admin errors.

Still, the exploitation cases are real and urgent, as confirmed by Senate probes and state attorneys general.

What’s Next for Missing Migrant Children?

The Trump team plans to ramp up with private contractors and more volunteers.

By fall 2025, they hope to close in on 50,000 locations. Long-term fixes include stricter sponsor checks and faster court processing to keep kids in sight.

For full details on the 2024 DHS IG report, check the official source: Management Alert – ICE Cannot Monitor All Unaccompanied Migrant Children Released from DHS and HHS Custody.

HHS also shares updates on their Unaccompanied Children program at oig.hhs.gov/reports/featured/unaccompanied-children.

This story of lost and found migrant children spotlights the need for smarter border policies.

As Homan puts it, it’s about giving every kid a fair shot at safety.