A Child Alone and Without Papers

Summary

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.  

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Design and Methodology
• From Removal to Safe Return
• Removal Findings
• Repatriation
• The Repatriation Process in Mexico
• The Repatriation Process in Honduras
• Conclusion
• Recommendations
• Glossary
• List of Appendices

Key Takeaway

In America, our system for realizing the removal and repatriation of migrant children is broken

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.