Story perspectives

Trump Administration's Controversial Housing for Migrant Youth Exposed

1/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Trump administration is housing migrant youth at Abraxas Academy in Pennsylvania, a juvenile prison with a history of staff abuse allegations.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement allocated $9 million to the facility, which currently holds five to eight migrant boys.
Investigations found at least 15 documented incidents of physical mistreatment and a pending sexual abuse lawsuit from former residents.
In December 2022, the average number of children in Office of Refugee Resettlement care was 2,458, while ICE held over 65,000 adult detainees.
The year 2025 was the deadliest for ICE detainees, with at least 32 reported deaths.

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Story summary

The Trump administration is housing migrant youth at Abraxas Academy in Pennsylvania, a juvenile prison with a history of staff abuse allegations.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement allocated $9 million to the facility, which currently holds five to eight migrant boys.
Investigations found at least 15 documented incidents of physical mistreatment and a pending sexual abuse lawsuit from former residents.
In December 2022, the average number of children in Office of Refugee Resettlement care was 2,458, while ICE held over 65,000 adult detainees.
The year 2025 was the deadliest for ICE detainees, with at least 32 reported deaths.