The United States is planning to set up a new call center that will help track unaccompanied migrant children and other immigration cases. The move is being led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a broader enforcement strategy. A government contracting document shows that the call center is expected to work closely with state and local police, gathering information that can be shared with federal authorities.
This new system would give immigration officials more detailed location data about children who entered the country alone. According to the document, the call center may receive between 6,000 and 7,000 calls per day, operating around the clock to respond to immigration-related reports and tips.
The plans follow a push by the former Trump administration to locate and deport unaccompanied migrant children who crossed the U.S.–Mexico border without their parents. Earlier this year, officials began actively searching for minors with pending immigration cases, something that has rarely been done at this scale in previous administrations.
At the same time, the government has expanded partnerships with state and local police through a program known as 287(g), which allows local law enforcement to support federal immigration enforcement. The number of participating agencies has grown significantly, rising from around 135 to more than 1,100.
However, critics and immigrant support groups say these measures could harm public trust. They warn that families and communities may become afraid to report crimes if local police are seen as working closely with federal immigration authorities.
The contracting document indicates that the call center would be located in Nashville, Tennessee, but does not explain why the city was chosen. It is noted that CoreCivic, a major private prison company that works with ICE to operate detention facilities, is headquartered in Nashville.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and CoreCivic have not yet provided public comments regarding the call center plan.