Number of Sponsor Placements of Unaccompanied Children by State
Sponsor Placements of Unaccompanied Children by State
| STATE |
# RELEASED |
|---|
| ALABAMA |
407 |
|---|
| ALASKA |
5 |
|---|
| ARIZONA |
186 |
|---|
| ARKANSAS |
166 |
|---|
| CALIFORNIA |
3,150 |
|---|
| COLORADO |
221 |
|---|
| CONNECTICUT |
325 |
|---|
| DELAWARE |
117 |
|---|
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
187 |
|---|
| FLORIDA |
3,181 |
|---|
| GEORGIA |
1,154 |
|---|
| HAWAII |
8 |
|---|
| IDAHO |
8 |
|---|
| ILLINOIS |
305 |
|---|
| INDIANA |
245 |
|---|
| IOWA |
122 |
|---|
| KANSAS |
179 |
|---|
| KENTUCKY |
237 |
|---|
| LOUISIANA |
1,071 |
|---|
| MAINE |
8 |
|---|
| MARYLAND |
2,205 |
|---|
| MASSACHUSETTS |
773 |
|---|
| MICHIGAN |
92 |
|---|
| MINNESOTA |
173 |
|---|
| MISSISSIPPI |
179 |
|---|
| MISSOURI |
121 |
|---|
| MONTANA |
1 |
|---|
| NEBRASKA |
192 |
|---|
| NEVADA |
122 |
|---|
| NEW HAMPSHIRE |
13 |
|---|
| NEW JERSEY |
1,504 |
|---|
| NEW MEXICO |
18 |
|---|
| NEW YORK |
3,347 |
|---|
| NORTH CAROLINA |
1,191 |
|---|
| NORTH DAKOTA |
4 |
|---|
| OHIO |
360 |
|---|
| OKLAHOMA |
212 |
|---|
| OREGON |
50 |
|---|
| PENNSYLVANIA |
386 |
|---|
| RHODE ISLAND |
119 |
|---|
| SOUTH CAROLINA |
350 |
|---|
| SOUTH DAKOTA |
21 |
|---|
| TENNESSEE |
760 |
|---|
| TEXAS |
4,280 |
|---|
| UTAH |
67 |
|---|
| VERMONT |
3 |
|---|
| VIRGIN ISLANDS |
4 |
|---|
| VIRGINIA |
2,234 |
|---|
| WASHINGTON |
211 |
|---|
| WEST VIRGINIA |
10 |
|---|
| WISCONSIN |
50 |
|---|
| WYOMING |
6 |
|---|
| TOTAL |
30,340 |
|---|
For more information, please read ORR’s reunification policy.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/...laced-sponsors
Sponsor Placements of Unaccompanied Children by State
Once the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) receives a child from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), we have the responsibility to continuously seek placement options in the child’s best interest. This typically involves releasing children to sponsors. Sponsors are adults who can suitably provide for the child’s physical and mental well-being and have not engaged in any activity that would indicate a potential risk to the child.
We try to place the child with a parent, and if that is not possible, with a relative, and if that is not possible, with a family friend. We do not restrict placements based on the immigration status of the parent or other sponsor. All sponsors receive a background check that includes a public records name and address check to search for criminal history; review of any criminal history the sponsor self-reports during the reunification process; and through interviews with the child. If the sponsor is not a parent or legal guardian of the child, a fingerprint check is also conducted.
We ensure that children are vaccinated and medically cleared before placing them with a sponsor. We do not release any children who have a contagious condition.
The sponsor is responsible for ensuring the minor’s presence at all future immigration proceedings. They are also responsible for ensuring the minor reports to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for removal from the United States if an immigration judge issues a removal order or voluntary departure order.
If we cannot locate a sponsor, the child will typically remain in ORR care unless the following happens:
- The child goes before the immigration judge and requests a voluntary departure
- A judge orders the child to be deported and DHS repatriates
- The child turns 18, transferring custody back to DHS
- Legal relief, in some form is granted by immigration judge.
The data in the table below shows state-by-state placement of unaccompanied children with sponsors. ACF will update this data during the first week of each month.
