Latest UC Data – FY2021

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Administration for Children and Families, an operational division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) manages the Unaccompanied Children (UC) Program.

UC are defined as a child who has no lawful immigration status in the United States; has not attained 18 years of age; and, with respect to whom, there is no parent or legal guardian in the United States, or no parent or legal guardian in the United States available to provide care and physical custody.

Other federal agencies, usually the Department of Homeland Security, refer UC to ORR. Most children were placed into ORR care because immigration authorities apprehended them while trying to cross the border. Other UC referrals resulted after coming to the attention of immigration authorities at some point after crossing the border. HHS plays no role in the apprehension or initial detention of UC prior to their referral to HHS custody and HHS is not a party to the child's immigration proceedings.

Since 2003, ORR has provided care for and found suitable sponsors for over 409,550 UC. For its first nine years, ORR served fewer than 8000 children annually. Since Fiscal Year 2012 (October 1, 2011 – September 30, 2012), this number has jumped dramatically, with 13,625 children referred to ORR by the end of FY 2012. The program received 24,668 UC referrals from DHS in FY 2013, 57,496 referrals in FY 2014, 33,726 referrals in FY 2015, 59,170 in FY 2016, 40,810 in FY 2017, 49,100 in FY 2018, and 69,550 in FY 2019. In FY 2020, DHS referred 15,381 UC to ORR.

The latest data available on UC demographics and program operations for fiscal year 2021 is on this page.

Overall Data | Gender | Age | Tender Age (0-12) UC By Shelter Type | Total Monthly Discharges to Individual Sponsors Only (By Category)

Overall Data

Gender

Age

Tender Age (0-12) UC By Shelter Type

Total Monthly Discharges to Individual Sponsors Only (By Category)