ICE Targets Unaccompanied Immigrant Children, Offering $2,500 Payment for Deportation
In a shocking move, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun targeting unaccompanied immigrant children with a new policy offering $2,500 to those 14 years or older who agree to be deported, according to government documents obtained by The Intercept.
The operation, which immigration rights advocates have dubbed "Freaky Friday," is part of President Donald Trump's ongoing mass deportation campaign. According to a memo sent to immigrant aid groups, ICE agents are pressuring unaccompanied minors to accept the cash payment in exchange for agreeing to be deported. This move has sparked widespread outrage and concern among immigration rights advocates, who argue that the policy pressures vulnerable minors into waiving their right to return to their home countries.
The $2,500 payment is a significant incentive, especially considering the circumstances of many unaccompanied immigrant children. These minors often arrive in the United States alone, fleeing violence, poverty, or persecution in their home countries. By offering them a cash payment, ICE is essentially buying their cooperation and consent to be deported.
According to immigration rights advocates, the timing of this policy is deliberate. "This is a clear attempt by ICE to minimize public attention during the federal government shutdown," said a spokesperson for the advocacy group, Immigration Justice Network. "By targeting unaccompanied minors with a cash payment, ICE is exploiting their vulnerability and desperation."
The operation has been ongoing since January 26, 2025, when ICE agents raided a home in Chicago. The raid was part of a larger effort to target unaccompanied immigrant children, who are often more vulnerable to exploitation due to their age and circumstances.
Immigration experts have expressed concern about the implications of this policy. "This is a clear example of how ICE is using coercive tactics to achieve its deportation goals," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a professor of immigration law at the University of California, Los Angeles. "By offering cash payments to unaccompanied minors, ICE is undermining their right to due process and potentially subjecting them to further harm."
The current status of this policy remains unclear. However, advocates are calling on Congress to take action and protect the rights of unaccompanied immigrant children. "We urge lawmakers to pass legislation that would prevent ICE from using coercive tactics like cash payments to achieve its deportation goals," said the Immigration Justice Network spokesperson.
As the debate over immigration reform continues, one thing is clear: the fate of unaccompanied immigrant children hangs in the balance. With ICE's new policy offering $2,500 for deportation, these vulnerable minors are facing an impossible choice: accept a cash payment and risk further harm, or fight for their right to remain in the United States.
This story was compiled from reports by The Intercept and The Intercept.
