ICE Plans New National Call Center for Unaccompanied Minor Migrants

Mon Nov 10 2025 23:03:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to establish a national call center in Nashville, Tennessee, aimed at aiding law enforcement in locating unaccompanied migrant children. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enforce immigration laws more aggressively amid substantial federal funding.

In an effort to assist law enforcement in locating unaccompanied migrant children who have entered the U.S. illegally, ICE plans to open a new call center in Nashville by March. The center is expected to handle up to 7,000 calls a day and is part of a larger initiative to improve immigration enforcement following a significant federal investment in border security. The agency is also looking for vendors to facilitate the transportation of detainees from various locations in Texas.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to establish a national call center in Nashville, Tennessee, with the goal of assisting local and state law enforcement agencies in the search for unaccompanied migrant children who have entered the country unlawfully. According to a federal contracting document made public recently, this initiative arises from ICE's stated immediate need for a functioning call center that operates around the clock and can manage between 6,000 to 7,000 calls daily.

ICE aims to have the call center operational by the end of March, with full functionality expected by June. The agency has requested information from potential vendors on how to effectively utilize technology to maximize operational efficiency.

Additionally, ICE is seeking vendors capable of transporting large numbers of detainees daily throughout Texas. This comes amidst the impending implementation of a new state law requiring all jails to engage with ICE, enhancing collaboration with local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws.

The planned establishment of the call center and transport services is notably part of a larger context, wherein the government is directing a significant $170 billion towards immigration and border security, a priority underscored by the Republican-led legislation signed by former President Donald Trump last July.

Local engagements with law enforcement agencies regarding immigration have also greatly increased as part of this response strategy. The proposal for the Nashville call center highlights an ongoing trend within the Trump administration's immigration framework, which has seen policy shifts targeting unaccompanied minors and unprecedented scrutiny over immigrant sponsors.

On the ground, ICE states that, as of July, around 2,000 unaccompanied children were still in government custody. The agency's comprehensive strategy also includes a nationwide review of past entries, which poses additional challenges and administrative requirements for the sponsors of migrant children.

Proposed transport operations include six daily trips from various areas in Texas, where around 30 detainees are expected to be escorted under armed guard to one of 36 ICE offices within a strict 30-minute timeframe. The engaging of potential contractors emphasizes ICE's aggressive enforcement push, which is characterized by new guidelines requiring DNA tests and fingerprinting for sponsors, a move that has brought about concerns among advocates for immigrant rights.

In conclusion, as ICE works towards the establishment of a new call center and seeks logistical support for detainee transportation, the agency is situated at the crossroads of heightened enforcement policies and the ongoing humanitarian complexities surrounding unaccompanied minors in the immigration system.