Forced Child-Family Separations in the Southwestern US Border Under the “Zero-Tolerance” Policy: the Adverse Impact on Well-Being of Migrant Children (Part 2)

Abstract

The article examines the situation of minors from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who have been forcibly separated from their parents at the southwestern US border. It reviews international standards and national contexts regarding the rights of children and protection of families in the evolving human rights crisis. It draws from extensive research on the multidimensional effects of institutionalization and intercountry adoption, as well as the delivery of services to unaccompanied minors through refugee resettlement programs. It analyzes the well-being of this population, including their physical, emotional, psychological, and mental health, and developmental needs and socioeconomic condition. The article concludes that the zero-tolerance policy that resulted in forced family separation policy and their associated detention and resettlement practices violate the rights of children and have serious implications for the health and well-being of children and their families. It proposes recognition of well-being as a right of migrating children, which must be ensured in tandem with their safety and search for permanency to achieve the goals of the child welfare system in the USA.