Migrant children's shelter investigated after claims kids were restrained and isolated in a 'red room'

Source: The Independent

Sunday 19 April 2026 17:11 EDT


A shelter for migrant children in New York is facing allegations of abuse including placing children in restraints and isolating some kids in a so-called “red room,” according to a report. The alleged abuse occurred at Children’s Village, a shelter in Dobbs Ferry, 25 miles north of Manhattan, which has served unaccompanied migrant children since 2004, CNN reported.

The children were allegedly beaten by a “special unit” team, with abuse taking place out of the view of security cameras. Some were punished with restraints or isolated in a so-called “red room,” for extended periods of time, sources told CNN.

The shelter stopped housing children in January and kids were moved elsewhere due to “significant child welfare concerns,” according to documents viewed by the publication.

Unaccompanied migrant children are the responsibility of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which falls under the Health and Human Services Department. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told CNN the agency “takes all allegations of misconduct involving children in its care extremely seriously.”

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/migrant-childrens-shelter-abuse-allegations-new-york-b2960719.html