Unaccompanied Migrant Children Research Articles

Unaccompanied Migrant Children in US Government Custody: 2014–2023

Between October 1, 2014, and March 1, 2023, the US Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) took custody of 568,890 unaccompanied migrant children. Drawing on a unique dataset that ORR produced in response to Freedom of Information Act requests and litigation, we provide the first comprehensive, long-term demographic study of the population of unaccompanied migrant children while in ORR custody. Our analysis reveals the children's differential treatment and experiences across time and demographic characteristics. We contextualize ORR's treatment of the children in its custody by identifying legal standards governing their care. We also examine how specific instances of legal, political, and social change in the United States correlate with fluctuations in the origin-based demographics of unaccompanied migrant children seeking refuge in the United States. Results highlight the differential treatment and intense uncertainty that unaccompanied migrant children face in the United States based on their age, gender, country and region of origin, ORR program placements, and discharge types.

Emotional and relational realms of unaccompanied migrant adolescents: an approach to their lived experiences

After the arrivals of unaccompanied migrant adolescents to Spain reached their peak in 2018, the trends have varied in the last few years, significantly decreasing in 2019 and slowly starting to increase again in 2020. These adolescents represent one of the most vulnerable groups due to their unique characteristics closely linked with the stressors encountered in their migratory process and the host society. All these experiences have been found to affect their well-being in different domains; however, very little is known about their perception of the matter, which is critical to understanding their needs and perspectives. This paper aims to look into the lived experiences of these children and how this process has affected their relational and emotional spheres, which are paramount to their development, especially during adolescence. These experiences were gathered using qualitative methodology consisting of interviews and focus groups conducted in a reception centre for unaccompanied migrant children in Catalonia. The view of these children is enriched with the contributions of the staff working in the reception centre. Analysis of the verbatims yielded six main topics revolving around frustrated expectations, obtention of legal documents, freedom, contact with the Spanish society, family and mental health. These are discussed considering how they affect emotional and relational well-being in the three stages of the migration process.

The limitations of Private International Law regarding the protection of unaccompanied migrant children in the European Union


 This article aims to explore whether the rules of Private International Law (PIL) effectively safeguard the parental responsibility and protection of children, specifically addressing the protection of unaccompanied children migrating to the European Union (EU). The objective is to enhance the protection of the best interests of these minors. The study employs the inductive method, starting with the analysis of specific legislation and jurisprudence to derive a general premise as a conclusion. The research methodology involves bibliographic and documentary research. The findings reveal that, from a practical standpoint, PIL has limitations in its application, failing to fulfill its role in protecting the best interests of unaccompanied children in the EU.
 

Im/migrant Well-Being Part II: Race, Ethnicity, and Legal Challenges to Incorporation and Well-Being

In this introduction to the second issue of a two-part series on Im/migrant Well-being, we discuss examples of how race, ethnicity, and a patchwork of current and proposed state and federal laws contribute to the exclusion of and discrimination of immigrants, hindering their incorporation and having harmful effects on their well-being. Articles discussed in this introduction zoom in into these issues by analyzing in detail how the well-being of immigrants in the United States is threatened by current U.S. immigration laws and policies: from the racial construction of the invasive “100-mile border enforcement zone” to the precarious legal statuses of unaccompanied migrant children, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, and farmworkers. Together, these empirical studies produce robust evidence demonstrating how the racialization and liminal legality of im/migrant communities in the United States adversely affect their belonging, incorporation, and overall well-being. In line with the findings from these articles, and in the absence of federal action on immigration reform in the horizon, the opening commentary following this introduction highlights how immigrant communities and scholars have the power to perform critical acts of brokerage to prevent harm and promote collective well-being by sharing resources and produce collaborative research that contributes toward evidence-informed policymaking.

The well-being of unaccompanied migrant children: Between dreams and reality

The phenomenon of unaccompanied migrant children, though global, has important territorial and social context differences. The objectives of this study were: (i) to analyze the arrivals of unaccompanied children in Catalonia by age, sex and country of origin, (ii) to know crucial aspects related to the family and school background, (iii) to analyze their emotional well-being and life satisfaction, and (iv) to gain an insight into their perception of the barriers, opportunities and their rights during their stay in the child protection system (residential care). Regarding the first objective, a secondary analysis of the official database was carried out for the period 2015; for the second and third objectives, a questionnaire was administered to 811 unaccompanied migrant adolescents; and for the fourth, four focus groups were organized with young unaccompanied migrants living in residential centers. The main findings pointed to significant differences according to country of origin. Significant differences also existed in terms of emotional and life satisfaction, depending on country of origin, urban or rural background, sex, and above all, length of stay in the new setting. All the factors analyzed have implications for professional practice to support and protect unaccompanied migrant children and promote their autonomy, with an emphasis on the need to incorporate a gender perspective.

Is there a gender-based analysis of unaccompanied migrant minors? A systematic review of the evidence

BackgroundGiven the increased international arrival of unaccompanied migrant minors in recent decades, the need has arisen to optimise their protection and the resources offered to them. In addition to the known difficulties faced by unaccompanied minors, girls encounter additional obstacles due to their gender. Unaccompanied migrant girls face the threat of triple invisibility as minors, migrants and women. This reality is analysed in this study, which is intended to seed future research under a gendered approach to the reception and integration of unaccompanied migrant minors. ObjectivesThis study aims to verify whether the literature includes a scientific, gender-based analysis of unaccompanied migrant minors and, in turn, to shed light on gendered understandings of migration, unaccompanied migrant children’s characteristics, social needs, risk and protection factors, highlighting the main differences found between migrant girls and boys. MethodologyA systematic literature review based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines was used to identify research and international studies focused on unaccompanied minors, highlighting those that integrated a gendered perspective. ResultsThe search of different databases identified studies covering gender-based differences among unaccompanied minors across 17 countries. This analysis revealed some differential aspects among unaccompanied migrant children related to their social, health and educational needs that could improve social inclusion in the host society. The authors want to overcome the reductionism of analyses limited to disaggregating the data according to gender; thus, a more in-depth analysis incorporating other distinctive characteristics is put forward. ConclusionA better understanding of the experience and needs of migrant girls and boys should guide future research in this field to support the development of more effective, gender-specific intervention strategies.

Persistence of Emotional Distress in Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents Primarily From the Northern Triangle of Central America

In the US, unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents (hereinafter referred to as children) are predominantly from Central America's Northern Triangle. While unaccompanied migrant children are at high risk for psychiatric sequelae due to complex traumatic exposures, longitudinal investigations of psychiatric distress after resettlement are lacking. To identify factors associated with emotional distress and longitudinal changes in emotional distress among unaccompanied migrant children in the US. For this retrospective cohort study, the 15-item Refugee Health Screener (RHS-15) was administered between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, to unaccompanied migrant children as part of their medical care to detect emotional distress. Follow-up RHS-15 results were included if they were completed before February 29, 2020. Median follow-up interval was 203 days (IQR, 113-375 days). The study was conducted in a federally qualified health center that provides medical, mental health, and legal services. Unaccompanied migrant children who completed the initial RHS-15 were eligible for analysis. Data were analyzed from April 18, 2022, to April 23, 2023. Traumatic events before migration, during migration, during detention, and after resettlement in the US. Emotional distress, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, as indicated by the RHS-15 (ie, score ≥12 on items 1-14 or ≥5 on item 15). In total, 176 unaccompanied migrant children completed an initial RHS-15. They were primarily from Central America's Northern Triangle (153 [86.9%]), were mostly male (126 [71.6%]), and had a mean (SD) age of 16.9 (2.1) years. Of the 176 unaccompanied migrant children, 101 (57.4%) had screen results above the positive cutoff. Girls were more likely to have positive screen results than boys (odds ratio, 2.48 [95% CI, 1.15-5.34]; P = .02). Follow-up scores were available for 68 unaccompanied migrant children (38.6%). On the follow-up RHS-15, most scored above the positive cutoff (44 [64.7%]). Three-quarters of unaccompanied migrant children who scored above the positive cutoff initially continued to have positive scores at follow-up (30 of 40), and half of those with negative screen scores initially had positive scores at follow-up (14 of 28). Female vs male unaccompanied migrant children (unstandardized β = 5.14 [95% CI, 0.23-10.06]; P = .04) and initial total score (unstandardized β = 0.41 [95% CI, 0.18-0.64]; P = .001) were independently associated with increased follow-up RHS-15 total score. The findings suggest that unaccompanied migrant children are at high risk for emotional distress, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. The persistence of emotional distress suggests that unaccompanied migrant children would benefit from ongoing psychosocial and material support after resettlement.

Addressing the Surge in Unaccompanied Migrant Children

Unaccompanied migrant children (UMC) account for a growing share of apprehensions along the US-Mexico border. Contrary to past UMC flows, which were primarily comprised of older youth fleeing violence in Mexico, recent UMC flows include children of all ages escaping life-threatening conditions in Central America's Northern Triangle. To manage the growing influx of UMC, the Biden Administration established surge facilities, which rely on emergency standards to house and care for the children. We show that surge facilities created capacity in traditional shelters, enabling them to accommodate tender-age children and reducing the number of children in foster care.

Unaccompanied migrant children and indebted relations: Weaponizing safeguarding

AbstractUK statutory guidance for practitioners suggests that indebtedness is an area where safeguarding red flags should be raised and action taken to minimize the risk of exploitation. Yet, our research shows that unaccompanied migrant children have complex indebted relationships, which can range from extractive to connective. Drawing on interviews with unaccompanied children, we show that these indebted relationships can include financial debt to smugglers, responsibilities to support transnational families, as well as social obligations to peers and others. Their accounts present a nuanced understanding of the taboo nature of indebted relationships, not to be shared with the practitioners in their lives. This is due, in part, to the potential threat of reporting to the Home Office, which might jeopardize their immigration status. In response to this weaponization of social care, we demonstrate how children turn to peer networks of support, creating their own alternative forms of social protection. In so doing, we complicate critiques of adultification, which traditionally highlight the ways that racially minoritized children may be treated as adults—to their detriment. In so doing, we show that because indebtedness is normatively linked to adulthood, unaccompanied children's hopes and fears may be rendered unsayable and therefore unsupportable in social care, all in the name of safeguarding.

Social Inclusion of Unacompanied Migrant Children in Bulgaria – Challenges, Achievements and Alternatives

The article examines the main problems accompanying unaccompanied migrant children on the way to their social inclusion in the Bulgarian and, respectively, in the European society. Taking into account the achievements of the Bulgarian governmental and non-governmental organizations in the care and protection of this numerous group of children, the author also presents some unresolved problems concerning the reception and integration of unaccompanied minor migrants in Bulgaria and offers his vision for alternative ways to solve them.

Experiences of Undocumented Parents Reuniting with Children Who Entered the United States as Unaccompanied Minors

In 2021, the United States saw an exponential influx of unaccompanied migrant children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Upon apprehension at the border, unaccompanied children are placed in the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) temporary shelter facilities. The ORR is responsible for locating, vetting, and releasing the children to their family, guardians, or a suitable sponsor. Undocumented parents seeking reunification may fear cross-examination and background checks. This study aimed to explore the experiences of undocumented families reunified with their children with the help of a community-based organization (CBO). A collective case study method was used to collect qualitative data from seven parents. Respondent parents expressed their rationale for allowing their children to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, their experience with the ORR, and the reasons they pursued community-based guidance. The results document the depth of trauma and difficulties parents of unaccompanied migrant children face with American service providers. It is recommended that immigration-related government agencies form relationships with culturally diverse organizations that are trusted by immigrant communities.

Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Chile: State of the Art

This article aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the situation regarding unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents in the Latin American region, focusing on Chile. This intricate and evolving phenomenon encompasses adolescents who have experienced precarious circumstances and rights violations, resulting in a diverse and complex group. Previously documented primarily at the borders of the Global North, this study examines the case of Chile, where, between 2018 and 2021, there was a notable increase in the entry of unaccompanied children and adolescents through unauthorized crossings. These individuals migrate either alone or in unconventional groups, such as migrant caravans, youth collectives, or even with pets. The article presents data regarding the context of their arrival, explores relevant theoretical and conceptual foundations concerning unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents and their agency, and concludes with a critical analysis of the actions taken by the state in response to this situation.

1.7 Cultural Considerations and Response to Trauma Exposure for Latina/o Children at the Border

The objectives are to review the diversity of ethnicities and languages that exist in the Latina/o population, review common traumatic experiences, and address the importance of various cultural factors pertinent to the engagement and treatment of trauma-related disorders in these youth. The circumstances of unaccompanied migrant children (UMC) will be discussed.

Unaccompanied migrant children in the United States: Implementation and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

The number of unaccompanied children (UC) arriving in the United States (U.S.) from other countries has increased significantly over the past decade. UC report high trauma exposure and greater posttraumatic stress symptoms compared with youth who immigrate with caregivers. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) has demonstrated preliminary effectiveness with UC. However, few studies have treated U.S.-based samples of UC, who emigrate primarily from Central America. One hundred thirty-eight UC were referred for treatment and 129 completed a pretreatment assessment including the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Most UC were from Central America (n = 109; 79.0%) and resided in government facilities (n = 76; 55.1%). One hundred twenty-two youth began TF-CBT, had an average of 9.71 sessions (SD = 9.3, range: 1-48), and 41.8% (n = 51) completed treatment. One hundred four youth completed a brief, six-item progress monitoring measure of trauma symptoms, for which 84 had at least two observations during treatment. UC endorsed 3.80 traumatic events on average (SD = 2.38). High rates of violence, physical and sexual abuse, and serious injury were reported. There were significant improvements on most self-report rating scales (p < .05); within-subjects Cohen's d's ranged from .07 to 1.03 for pre- to posttreatment assessments and was d = .44 for the progress monitoring measure. Therapists reported on TF-CBT modifications for UC, including discussing mental health beliefs, navigating roles and relationships, tailoring treatment examples, exploring coping strategies, and addressing immigration factors. Preliminary findings support the utility of TF-CBT with UC. Implications for implementation and cultural modifications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Burden Among Unaccompanied Minors in US Custody.

BackgroundPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, crowded and unsanitary living conditions lacking medical expertise made U.S. detention centers hotbeds for infectious disease outbreaks. There have been 30,000 COVID-19 cases, positivity rates exceeding 50%, and nine deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, but the extent of disease among children under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has not been well-documented. We sought to evaluate the burden of COVID-19 among unaccompanied minors under the ORR’s responsibility.MethodsWe analyzed SARS-CoV-2 testing results of refugees and asylum seekers in facilities associated with the ORR from 02/01/2020 to 11/18/2020, courtesy of a Freedom of Information Act request.ResultsORR facilities performed 7,132 SARS-CoV-2 tests from 3/13/2020 to 11/18/2020. Overall, the SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 13.4%. Factors associated with higher positivity rates were age group (16 to 17 years old); identifying as male; undergoing testing in April, August, or September; staying in a for-profit versus a non-profit facility, and detention in certain facilities. The mean detention time with a positive test was 14.8 ± 3.2 days. Greater than 10 percent of positive tests were in long-term detainees.ConclusionsThe high SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rate raises concerns about an inability to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within detention facilities housing unaccompanied migrant children, particularly those run by for-profit companies. Mandated measures for social distancing and vaccination among detainees and detention facility employees are needed to limit the spread of the virus.

Making the Family Relationships of the Unaccompanied Youth Visible: An Opportunity to Include a New Actor in Children Care

ABSTRACT The objective of this article is to identify those situations where the families of fostered unaccompanied migrant children are made visible in order to favor the incorporation of these families into the pathway planning. The study design is qualitative exploratory. The fieldwork was carried out in Spain and involved working groups with specialized professionals. The results show that the authorities responsible for the foster care completely ignore the families although these are present in the daily life of the unaccompanied children. The few professionals and resources that include the families in the intervention agree that, doing so, the fostering process becomes much easier and smoother. The research concludes that a social work based on a decolonized and transnational perspective is essential to implement educational strategies and gain access to a legal status that favor a positive incorporation of the families into the intervention.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Health Impact on Unaccompanied Migrant Children.

From the point of apprehension by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the U.S.-Mexican border to their reunification with sponsors in U.S. communities, unaccompanied children (UC) face political, social, and economic conditions, heightening their risk for mental and physical health burdens that may be exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such risk underscores the importance of social work practice and advocacy for the improved treatment and experiences of UC. This article uses a structural vulnerability conceptual lens to summarize the existing literature regarding UC and argues that UC's liminal immigration status, economic precarity, and lack of healthcare access place this group at high structural vulnerability during the pandemic. Further, this article identifies and describes three contexts of structural vulnerability of UC that are important points of social work intervention: (1) at the border, where migrant children are denied their legal right to seek protection; (2) in detention and shelter facilities; and (3) during reunification with sponsors. This article concludes with important practice and policy opportunities for social workers to pursue to obtain social justice for an important and highly vulnerable migrant child population.

Child Maltreatment &amp; Child Migration: Abuse Disclosures by Central American and Mexican Unaccompanied Migrant Children

While gang violence, community violence, and domestic violence have been recognized as contributing factors to Central American migration, less is known about the intersection between child maltreatment and migration. This article uses secondary data from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) interviews with unaccompanied minors from Central America and Mexico to examine child maltreatment. It provides information on the abused children, their abusers, and the questions that led to their disclosure of maltreatment. It finds that girls reported maltreatment at higher rates than boys; only girls in this sample reported sexual abuse and intimate partner violence; and boys experienced physical abuse more than any other form of maltreatment. Overall, girls experienced all forms of abuse at higher rate than boys. Fewer than half of this sample described maltreatment as an explicit reason for migration, even those who viewed it as a type of suffering, harm or danger. In addition, some disclosures suggest that childhood transitions, such as in housing, schooling, or work status, warrant further inquiry as a potential consequence of or contributor to maltreatment. The article recommends that professionals engaged with migrant children in social services, legal services, or migration protection and status adjudications should inquire about maltreatment, recognizing that children may reveal abuse in complex and indirect ways. Protection risks within the home or family environment may provide the grounds for US legal immigration protections, such as Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) or asylum. Practitioners working with unaccompanied migrant children should use varied approaches to inquire about home country maltreatment experiences. Maltreatment may be part of the context of child migration, whether or not it is explicitly mentioned by children as a reason for migration. Policy Recommendations US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) should update SIJS regulations to reflect changes in the law, and modify application procedures to incorporate research knowledge on the impact of trauma on children. The US Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice (DOJ), and Health and Human Services (HHS), should ensure that all children in immigration proceedings receive legal representation through public-private partnerships overseen by the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Passage of Senate Bill 3108, the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2021, 1 would at least guarantee legal representation for unaccompanied minors. Codify legal standards (via USCIS regulation, or Congressional statute) for granting asylum based on gender and gender-based violence, and include standards for children and youth. Adjudicators from USCIS, Asylum Offices, and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) should consider new information about painful, traumatic, or shame-inducing experiences—such as child maltreatment—as part of the gradual process of disclosure, rather than negatively reflecting on the credibility of the applicant. Federal agencies with immigration responsibilities such as USCIS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and ORR, should be included in the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Interagency Task Force for Trauma-Informed Care. These agencies should require new trainings for immigration adjudicators, including immigration judges, asylum officers, Border Patrol agents, and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers, on interviewing and making decisions related to children. Legal service providers should adopt a holistic approach to service provision that includes social workers as part of the child’s legal team.

Discretion-as-Politics in Immigration Processes: The Case of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in the US

Trump administration’s anti-immigration measures affected dramatically the lives of unaccompanied migrant children (unaccompanied minors-UAMs) at the Southern border. This article investigates how and the extent to which the ‘discretionary power’ of immigration officials served the political objective of obstructing UAMs’ prospects of immigration relief. By drawing on qualitative empirical data, this article finds that border officials and the Attorney General employed ‘discretion-as-politics’ to block UAMs’ prospects of regularizing their immigration status in the US, which was consistent with the political agenda of the Trump administration.

Unaccompanied Migrant Children’s Rights: A Prerequisite for the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals in Spain and Sweden

Starting from a child rights-based approach to sustainable development, this contribution underlines and compares the discourses in selected Spanish and Swedish migration and education policies on the rights of unaccompanied minors to education and discusses their impact on the enactment of the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals in both countries. Based on critical discourse analysis, this research shows the co-existence of two different discourses: one on unaccompanied minors as global rights holders and the other on unaccompanied minors as foreign citizens. By describing unaccompanied migrant minors as citizens rather than children, international migration agreements make it possible for the Spanish and Swedish governments to deprioritize other international agreements on refugees’ rights, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 2030 Agenda. Furthermore, as child rights and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing, the negotiation of rights shows that there are obstacles to accomplishing rights-based Sustainable Development Goal 4 in the 2030 Agenda.