A 6-year-old Chinese boy named Yuanxin was separated from his father during a routine ICE check-in in New York and is now in the custody of the US Office of Refugee Resettlement, though his location remains unknown. More than a week after the separation, authorities confirmed the placement but refused to disclose where he is being held. The office of New York Democratic Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez stated they are working to gather more details for family reunification.
On November 26, 2025, 6-year-old Chinese boy Yuanxin and his father Fei Zheng were detained at the immigration office in Manhattan. Subsequently, during a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Yuanxin was separated from his father by US immigration authorities. Following the incident, the boy never appeared in federal detainee records, prompting searches by advocates.
More than a week later, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a federal agency under the US Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed that the immigrant minor from China had been placed in its custody. ORR almost always takes custody of immigrant children classified as unaccompanied or separated minors after their initial detention by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, the agency refused to reveal where the boy is being held.
The office of Nydia Velazquez, a Democratic congresswoman from New York involved in locating Yuanxin, issued a statement to the South China Morning Post. “We have confirmed that he is in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. We are continuing to gather more information and are focused on ensuring the well-being and reunification of the family,” the statement said.
The case highlights the complexities of separating immigrant children, with ORR handling placements under federal privacy rules that limit location disclosures. Advocates and lawmakers are pushing for transparency and family reunification.