Unaccompanied Children in America

Preface

1 Background and History
Overview
Historical Contexts of Unaccompanied Children in the United States
-Operation Pedro Plan
-Operation Babylift
-US Refugee Act of 1980
-Flores Settlement Agreement
-Homeland Security Act of 2002
-Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2005
-Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008
Unaccompanied Children Today
Unaccompanied Children and the US Immigration System
-Apprehension and Processing at the Border
-Unaccompanied Children Program
-Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program
Conclusion
Further Reading

2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions
Reasons for Migration
Hazards of the Migration Journey
Border Detention and Screening Issues
Human Trafficking and Economic Exploitation
Zero Tolerance and Family Separation
Unaccompanied Children and Mental Health
Unaccompanied Children and Education
Challenges with Family Reunification
Unaccompanied Children and Immigration Law
Further Reading

3 Perspectives
Challenges and Solutions to Navigating the US Education System for Unaccompanied Children, Kerri Evans
Unaccompanied Children and Labor Exploitation in the United States, Zayna Lyon
Navigating the Immigration System to Reunite Families with Their Separated Children, Maryam Rafieifar
Serving Children in a System That No Longer Serves Them, Silvia Melgar

4 Profiles
Organizations
-Bethany Christian Services
-Center for Immigration and Child Welfare
-Church World Service
-Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island
-Endeavors
-Global Refuge
-Heartland Human Care Services
-International Rescue Committee
-Kids in Need of Defense
-Kino Border Initiative
-Migration Policy Institute
-Morrison Child and Family Services
-Office of Refugee Resettlement
-Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
-US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
-US Customs and Border Protection
-Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights
People
-David Miliband (1965- )
-Eskinder Negash (1956- )
-Krish O'Mara Vignarajah (1979- )
-Richard Santos
-Mark J. Seitz (1954- )
-Andrew Selee (1968- )
-Wendy Young

5 Documents
From U.S. Senate Hearing "Ensuring the Safety and Well-Being of Unaccompanied Children"
Opening Statement of Hon. Richard J. Durbin, US Senator from Illinois (June 14, 2023)
Opening Statement of Hon. Lindsey O. Graham, US Senator from South Carolina (June 14, 2023)
Testimony of Venus Bradley, Foster Parent, Durham, North Carolina (June 14, 2023)
Testimony of Lorie Davidson, LCSW-C, Vice President, Children and Family Services, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Baltimore, Maryland (June 14, 2023)
Testimony of Lora Ries, Director, Border Security and Immigration Center, Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC (June 14, 2023)
Testimony of Robin Dunn Marcos, Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services (October 25, 2023)
Testimony of Joseph Salazar, Office Director, Office of Central American Affairs, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (October 25, 2023)
Testimony of Cardell T. Morant, Assistant Director Homeland Security Investigations, Center for Countering Human Trafficking, US Department of Homeland Security (October 25, 2023)

6 Resources
Articles
Reports
Book
Media

7 Chronology

Glossary
Index