This report — a compelling blend of original research and personal stories — examines how the United States handles the removal and return of some 43,000 unaccompanied child immigrants each year. It offers readers a comprehensive overview of the issue’s most pressing concerns, describes a broken system that is ripe for reinvention and spells out clear policy solutions aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of this vulnerable demographic.
In the United States, the reality of how we handle undocumented, unattended children is this: We disregard the protections outlined in numerous international agreements, return children to unsafe conditions and do little to deter repeat migration attempts. Experts are calling for a new approach, one inspired by the ideals of our child welfare system that recognizes the vulnerability of migrant children and strives to safeguard their well-being above all else.
