Migrant Children’s Rights to Health and Rehabilitation: A Primer for US Social Workers

Abstract

This article addresses the rights of migrant children to rehabilitation, health, and well-being, particularly when held in US detention. We provide contextual background on recent increases in irregular migration of children and youth to the United States from Latin America, highlighting how detention practices in the country violate domestic and international legal standards. We introduce key international human rights instruments and provisions related to the rights of migrant children and elaborate on the emergent meaning of a right to rehabilitation, which should be understood as an aspect of children’s right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The right to rehabilitation for migrant children who have experienced trauma and violence is a critical obligation that has implications for federal, state, and local governments in the United States, as well as, importantly, the social work profession.