Verification, Validation, and Reliability Study (IVVRS)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeks information related to establishing an Independent Verification, Validation, and Reliability Study (IVVRS) of the Age-Out Review Worksheet (AORW).The AORW is used to document that ICE considered the least restrictive setting available in making age-out custody determinations for age-outs. Age-outs are defined as minors who turn age 18 while in the custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (HHS/ORR). Under Federal law, children traveling without a parent or legal guardian and without lawful immigration status are transferred to the custody of HHS/ORR pending their release to a verified sponsor or upon turning 18 years of age, at which time, custody is transferred to ICE. Just prior to, or upon taking custody of the minor turning 18, ICE must make a custody determination as to where the minor will be placed pending immigration proceedings. ICE is required to identify all available settings, which may include alternative to detention programs, release to individual sponsors, referral to community-based programs, or ICE detention, and consider which is the least restrictive setting after taking into account the age-out’s danger to self, danger to the community, and risk of flight.​In the FY 2022 appropriation, Congress requested that ICE ensure that the AORW tool as currently designed will objectively inform custody and release decision making when unaccompanied minors turn 18 while still in ORR custody. In addition, ICE seeks to ensure that the tool is not only valid but is operationally reliable when used by officers in its field