HHS: Number of Unaccompanied Alien Children Entering US Reaches Highest in History

The number of unaccompanied children (UACs) entering the United States during fiscal year 2019 has grown to levels never seen before, Jonathan Hayes, director of the HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), told Congress on Thursday.

According to his written testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, DHS referred more than 67,000 UACs to ORR as of Sept. 16, 2019, which is the highest number in the program’s history.

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Hayes explained that the length of time that an unaccompanied minor stays in HHS custody has actually decreased compared to last year – almost half the number of days compared to 2018.

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