Key Takeaways
- ICE offered up to $2,500 as a self-deportation stipend to unaccompanied children in U.S. custody.
- Lawyers unearthed a secret operation nicknamed “Freaky Friday” targeting kids 14 and older.
- Advocates warn the offer pressures traumatized minors into life-or-death choices.
- Officials confirm voluntary return payments but deny threats or whispered code names.
ICE’s new self-deportation plan stirred alarm among immigration lawyers and advocates. On October 2, tips warned that ICE would pay unaccompanied children aged 14 and up to leave the country. The operation’s rumored name—“Freaky Friday”—sounded like a prank. However, credible sources and a government whistleblower confirmed the plan was real. Within hours, hundreds of lawyers joined a call to protect vulnerable kids from this offer.
Inside the Self-Deportation Offer
Under the proposal, children held by the Office of Refugee Resettlement could choose to return home. In exchange, they would receive up to $2,500. If they declined, ICE would send a letter on their 18th birthday threatening to deny asylum or other relief. Officials even hinted that family members still in the U.S. might face arrest if the child did not agree. Lawyers viewed this as coercion, not a free choice.
How the Plan Came to Light
Immigration attorney Charles Kuck posted on social media the morning the operation began. He wrote that ICE targeted unaccompanied children of all nationalities. He cited a “really reliable source” and called out a dark turn in enforcement. His post went viral, prompting Homeland Security to respond on the same platform. DHS denied the code name but admitted to offering voluntary return payments.
Lawyers Rally to Defend Kids
By October 2, hundreds of immigration advocates joined a virtual meeting. They shared tips, drafted emergency motions, and prepared to represent every affected child. One advocate said they feared children would be moved at night to avoid watchdogs. Another recalled a holiday weekend when officials tried deporting 600 Guatemalan kids before judges halted the flights. That rush showed how far enforcement would go without notice.
Officials Confirm and Deny
DHS and ICE issued identical statements. They insisted there was no “Freaky Friday” mission name. Yet they admitted a one-time stipend for voluntary returns. According to the agencies, any payment only arrives after an immigration judge approves the departure and the child reaches home. They stressed the option is purely voluntary and aims to aid families.
Why Advocates Call It Harmful
Advocates say true choice vanishes when minors face threats and trauma. Many unaccompanied kids fled violence, trafficking or abuse. They often lack legal guardians or court-appointed lawyers. Under the self-deportation plan, a traumatized 14-year-old might feel forced to sign away their asylum claims. One attorney stressed that minors obey authority. If ICE says “voluntary,” but hints at threats, the choice is not real.
Real Stories of Affected Children
Attorneys shared wrenching tales. A 14-year-old girl surrendered to bandits to protect her sister. Another teen endured sexual abuse at the hands of smugglers. One 5-year-old lost his mother to suicide after her gang-member partner forced her into a relationship. These children arrive broken. Advocates argue that asking them to decide on self-deportation adds trauma upon trauma.
Legal Tools and Special Status
Some children may qualify for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, a protection for those abused or abandoned by parents. However, two clients lost their pending cases and faced deportation anyway. That outcome left them with PTSD and depression. Lawyers plan to use every legal tool to block any forced return and to ensure that self-deportation offers never turn into threats.
The Debate over Coercion
Critics of the plan say it shifts the focus from adult criminals to minors. They call the stipend a bribe thinly veiled as compassion. One Brooklyn lawyer questioned why the U.S. would pay children to abandon legal relief. She argued that true amnesty would let millions apply without fear, instead of using scary operations as deterrents.
What Comes Next
At the time of the call, ICE offered self-deportation only to 17-year-olds. It remains unclear if 14-year-olds or younger kids will face the same choice. Lawyers are preparing court challenges and emergency motions. Meanwhile, advocates urge Congress to investigate the legality and ethics of the program.
A Call for Accountability
Critics want clear rules to protect unaccompanied minors. They demand that any voluntary return offer be free of coercion or threats. They also call for prompt access to legal representation for every child in government custody. Above all, they believe the U.S. immigration system should guard these kids, not push them back into harm’s way.
FAQs
Why did ICE propose self-deportation stipends?
ICE said it offers a voluntary return option to help children reunite with family and to ease resettlement costs. Critics argue it pressures minors into dangerous choices.
Is the self-deportation plan legal?
Officials claim the stipend is legal and only paid after a judge approves the return. Lawyers doubt its legality if children decide under threat or without counsel.
How can unaccompanied children get help?
Immigration advocates urge children to seek a lawyer immediately. Many nonprofits offer free legal aid and can challenge unfair deportation orders.
What might change the plan?
Lawyers plan court battles and hope Congress will hold hearings. Public pressure and legal rulings could force ICE to drop or revise the self-deportation offer.