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Fact check: What happens to children when ICE removes them from foster families?
Checked on June 12, 2025
1. Summary of the results
When ICE removes children from foster families or parents, several concerning processes are set in motion:
- Children are placed in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and subsequently into foster care [1]
- Some children are detained in handcuffs and shackles, even those already in foster care systems [2]
- Approximately 500 children have been taken into custody since the current administration began [3]
- ICE is actively preparing for expanded operations targeting migrant families with children, including those without criminal records [4]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original question overlooks several crucial aspects:
*Psychological Impact:
- Research shows severe psychological consequences of child-parent separation, including:
- Increased antisocial behavior
- Reduced intellectual ability
- Higher stress reactivity
- Risk of psychiatric disorders
- Experts classify these separations as "institutional child abuse" [5]
Legal and Administrative Context:
- ICE has received authority to detain migrants in sensitive locations [4]
- The administration plans to reopen family detention centers [4]
- Current practices may violate established child welfare protocols, particularly in states like Florida [2]
**3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement**
The question oversimplifies a complex issue:
Government Perspective:
- The Department of Homeland Security sometimes justifies removals based on alleged criminal connections, though these claims are often disputed by parents [1]
Systemic Issues*:
- The current system may discourage reporting of child abuse or neglect in immigrant communities [2]
- The focus on individual cases might obscure the larger systematic changes being implemented, including planned mass deportations [4]
- The question implies this only affects foster families, when in fact it impacts both foster situations and direct parent-child relationships [3] [1]
Want to dive deeper?
What legal authority does ICE have to remove children from foster care?
How many children have been removed from foster families by ICE in recent years?
What happens to undocumented children in the US foster care system?
Do foster families have legal rights when ICE targets children in their care?
What support services are available for children after ICE removal from foster homes?