The information in this blog post is current as of October 24, 2025.
On Friday, October 3, the federal government launched an operation that is targeted at unaccompanied children in shelters operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), an agency in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Under this operation, unaccompanied migrant children age 14 years and older are being offered $2,500 to seek voluntary departure from the United States. News articles reported seeing an HHS memo describing the new policy and how the stipends are being offered by the Department of Homeland Security, the agency of the federal government responsible for immigration enforcement that includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). DHS in a social media post confirmed that enforcement activities targeted at unaccompanied children were occurring, although it disputed some of the reports about the name and scope of the operation.
Advocates immediately raised concerns about this operation and how it will impact some of the most vulnerable children in the immigration system and their due process rights. These concerns intensified after reports began emerging of how children in shelters are being told about the $2,500 incentive and being asked to sign related forms without fully understanding the legal impacts. CILA’s website now has a one-page “Know Your Rights” resource with information for detained youth about what to do if they are approached about voluntary departure and instructing them to talk to an attorney and to not sign anything that they do not understand or cannot read. The resource is available in English and Spanish. Advocates who work with children in shelters are encouraged to share this resource with youth who may be impacted by these ongoing enforcement efforts.