The Trump administration’s recent changes to immigration policies are having a profound impact on migrant families, particularly those seeking to reunite with children in federal shelters. These policies, implemented since early 2026, have made the process of sponsoring and reuniting with migrant children more arduous, leading to prolonged stays in shelters and, in some cases, the separation of families.
One of the most significant changes is the removal of a rule that prohibited the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) from sharing information about potential sponsors with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This has allowed ICE to use information from the ORR to locate and arrest potential sponsors, many of whom are undocumented immigrants themselves.
Extended Shelter Stays and Family Separation
Since the implementation of these policies, there has been a notable increase in the average length of stay for children in ORR shelters. As of June 2026, the average stay was 117 days, more than double the average during the first Trump administration and triple the average a decade ago. This prolonged separation is taking a toll on both the children and their potential caregivers.
Y.R, a 37-year-old undocumented Honduran immigrant, experienced this firsthand. After spending nearly a year filling out government forms and submitting to background checks and DNA tests, she was finally reunited with her niece and nephew in. However, her joy was short-lived as she was subsequently arrested by ICE agents with the help of information from the ORR. Despite having no criminal history, Y.R. is now in deportation proceedings, leaving her niece and nephew in limbo.
The Impact on Mental Health
The extended stays in shelters are also having a significant impact on the mental health of migrant children. Dr. Sural Shah a California-based pediatrician and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Immigrant Child and Family Health notes that long stays can cause children to mistrust their caregivers and lead to long-term emotional and psychological issues.
F.S, a 32-year-old woman from Guatemala, shared her son’s struggle with anxiety and depression after being separated from him for over eight months. Her son, who is currently in a psychiatric hospital, blames himself for her arrest. The emotional toll on both the children and their caregivers is a stark reminder of the human cost of these policies.
The Broader Implications
The new policies are not only affecting individual families but also have broader implications for the immigration system as a whole. Advocates argue that these changes are creating a chilling effect, deterring potential sponsors from coming forward out of fear of detention. This, in turn, is leading to more children spending extended periods in shelters, often in conditions that are not conducive to their well-being.
Bob Carey the former director of the ORR during the Obama administration, warns that these policies are separating migrant families without generating the public outrage that followed the border separations during Trump’s first term. The arrests of potential sponsors are happening secretly, making it difficult for the general public to fully grasp the extent of the issue.
Despite the Trump administration’s claims that these policies are aimed at protecting children from exploitation, advocates like Alexa Sendukas a managing attorney with the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project argue that the primary focus is not on the well-being of the children but rather on enforcing immigration laws.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, defended the administration’s practices, citing examples of sponsors with criminal histories. However, advocates maintain that the majority of sponsors are law-abiding individuals who are simply trying to reunite with their children.
As the debate over immigration policies continues, the human cost of these changes is becoming increasingly apparent. The prolonged separation of families and the extended stays in shelters are taking a toll on both the children and their caregivers, highlighting the need for a more compassionate and effective approach to immigration reform.
