ICE’s New Young Adult Case Management Program: Why It Falls Short of Case Management Best Practices and Puts Youth at Risk

In January 2023, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began rollout of the Young Adult Case Management Program (YACMP), a new program that targets 18- and 19-year-old immigrant youth that ICE deems “non-dangerous” and “low flight risk.” In contrast with typical case management programs that work collaboratively with youth to match them with support services based on individual needs, ICE unilaterally and arbitrarily enrolls young adults in YACMP if they are facing immigration court proceedings and are not detained, irrespective of their specific needs.

This policy brief, produced by the Women’s Refugee Commission, National Immigrant Justice Center, and Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, examines:

1. who are the youth impacted by this new ICE program;
2. what this program entails and how it compares with traditional case management programs;
3. what we know about the corporation ICE has contracted to run this program

It has recommendations for effective case management for impacted youth.