More Than 145,000 U.S. Citizen Children Hit by ICE Sweeps as D.C. Emerges as Ground Zero

May 20, 2026

A Brookings Institution report found that over 145,000 American citizen children have had parents detained by ICE since President Trump's second term began, with Washington D.C. and Texas experiencing the highest rates nationally. The analysis examined approximately 400,000 immigration detentions between January 2025 and April 2026, revealing that more than five out of every 1,000 citizen children in D.C. have been affected by parental detention. The report highlights that the federal government lacks systematic tracking of these children's circumstances after their parents enter detention or deportation proceedings, with many families avoiding government contact out of fear.

Who is affected

Approximately 145,000 U.S. citizen children nationwide who have experienced parental detention
Approximately 205,000 total children (including non-citizens) affected by parental detention
More than 22,000 U.S. citizen children who lost all co-resident parental care
Over one-third of affected children under age 6, and 36% between ages 6-12
Washington D.C. and Texas communities, recording the highest rates nationally
Relatives, friends, pastors, and community members serving as emergency caregivers
Approximately 4.6 million U.S. citizen children in households with adults lacking permanent legal status
Child welfare agencies, schools, and local governments attempting to respond

What action is being taken

ICE is conducting detentions as part of a massive detention operation
Approximately 60,000 immigrants are currently being held in detention facilities nationwide
Immigration authorities are deporting mothers of American children at roughly four times the daily rate seen under President Biden
ICE agents are required to ask detained immigrants about children under the updated 2025 "Detained Parent Directive"
Child welfare agencies are handling cases, though only about 5% of affected children receive formal services
Families are placing children with relatives, friends, pastors, or trusted community members

Why it matters

This situation represents a humanitarian crisis affecting U.S. citizen children who face family separation, trauma, and uncertain futures despite their citizenship status. The lack of systematic government tracking means thousands of children become effectively invisible within a fragmented system where ICE, child welfare agencies, schools, and local governments operate independently. The scale could expand dramatically, as over 4.6 million citizen children live in households vulnerable to enforcement actions. The absence of comprehensive data prevents policymakers, service providers, and communities from adequately assessing needs and responding to the wellbeing of affected children, while many families avoid seeking help due to fear of additional enforcement.

What's next

The Brookings report recommends that the Department of Homeland Security should, at minimum, collect and publicly report accurate data on the number of parents facing detention or deportation and the number of U.S. citizen children who leave the country following a parent's removal. Researchers indicate that if detention efforts continue expanding, the vulnerability extends to more than 4.6 million U.S. citizen children in households with approximately 13 million adults lacking permanent legal status or holding only temporary protections.

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer