ICE interviewing parents trying to reunite with their children who entered US alone

Parents of children who crossed into the United States alone will be subjected to interviews by Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they wish to be reunited with them, according to a policy memo obtained by The Associated Press.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is part of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department and which takes custody of children who cross the border without a parent or legal guardian, issued the directive. The agency said the goal is to ensure that sponsors — usually a parent or guardian — are properly vetted.

In-person identification verification

Dig deeper:

Sponsors must appear in person to verify their identity in accordance with the new directive.

Before, people could submit their identity documents online. 

What they're saying:

The directive also says "federal law enforcement agencies may be present to meet their own mission objectives, which may include interviewing sponsors."

The Office of Refugee Resettlement said it communicates "clearly and proactively" with parents, telling them they may be interviewed by ICE or other law enforcement officials. It said parents can decline to be interviewed by ICE and that refusal won't influence decisions about whether their children will be released to them.

"The goal is to ensure that every child is released to a stable and safe environment and fully vetted sponsors by ensuring the potential sponsor is the same individual submitting supporting documentation, including valid ID," it said in a statement.

The other side:

Neha Desai, managing director of human rights at the National Center for Youth Law, said the change provides U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a "built-in opportunity" to arrest parents — something she said has already happened.

"We know of sponsors who are deeply, deeply fearful because of this interview, but some are still willing to go forward given their determination to get their children out of custody," she said.

Big picture view:

Legal advocacy groups say the shift has led to the arrest of some parents, while their children remain in U.S. custody. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not confirm that or answer questions about the July 9 directive, instead referring in a statement to the Biden administration's struggles to properly vet and monitor homes where children were placed.