US Border News Weekly Newsletter - (Volume 1- Number 4)
This week's deep dive: migrant children arriving alone at the US Border
Welcome to the US Border News Weekly Newsletter!
One of our goals for this publication is to offer “deep dives” of border issues far beyond our daily news reports. This is the second of what we hope will be many more to come - offering information and perspectives you won’t find in the mainstream media.
Last week, I did a deep dive into five top migration and security trends at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2024 (click the link to read that if you missed it).
This week we take a deep dive into the many migrant children who are arriving at the border alone.
It’s a huge problem:
In the first eight months of FY2023, there were 88,089 UAC (Unaccompanied Alien Children) encounters by the U.S. Border Patrol-a trend that is continuing this year.
It’s not a new problem:
As the chart above - which was prepared by GOP Senate staffers shows - more than 500,000 UCs have crossed the southern border illegally during the Biden-Harris administration.
Here are answers to common questions about this border issue:
What happens to the children once they are in federal custody?
US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) gives each child a "Notice to Appear" in immigration court.
Within 72 hours CBP must turn the children over to the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
ORR screens the children for trafficking, conducts medical examinations, and provides them with needed immunizations. Case managers and legal services are also provided.
ORR's next priority is to match each child with an "adult sponsor" defined as "a parent or a close family relative living in the United States." It takes 34 days on average to match a child with a sponsor.
As of November 1, 2024, there were 6,148 unaccompanied children in federal custody awaiting placement with an approved sponsor.
Where do most of these children go?
The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) says - based on ORR data - over the past ten years the majority (97,801) of unaccompanied children have settled with sponsors in Texas, followed by California with 80,404 children, Florida with 71,899 children, and New York State with 57,980 children.
When broken down to the county level, the MPI says most of those children (44,054) settled in Harris County (Houston), followed by Los Angeles (32, 778), Dallas (17,059), Miami-Dade (15,125) and Palm Beach (13,245).
In New York State most of the children settled in Suffolk County (12, 476) and Queens County (10,934).
Who are these children and where are they coming from?
In 2023, 76% were over 14 years old, and 61% were boys.
Most came from the Central American "Northern Triangle" Countries of Guatemala (42%); Honduras (28%) and El Salvador (9%).
8% of the children were Mexican while 13% came from various other countries.
Why are they coming?
Many children are fleeing violence from gangs and drug cartels. In some countries, such as El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, children face some of the highest homicide rates in the world.
Some parents are sending their children to the US in the hope to link them up with family members already here to help them escape the crime and poverty in their homeland.
Other parents send their children across the border alone in the hope of being able to later claim asylum themselves.
US laws are contributing to the influx of migrant children:
Legal loopholes play a significant role in the influx of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UACs) at the U.S. Southern Border, creating incentives for illegal immigration and hindering enforcement efforts:
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA): This 2008 law prevents the quick return of UACs from non-contiguous countries to their families, instead mandating their placement with sponsors in the U.S.
This has become a major pull factor for increased UAC migration.
Flores Settlement Agreement: This 1997 agreement, as interpreted by subsequent court decisions, limits the detention of UACs to 20 days before they must be released to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This short detention period often results in UACs being released into the U.S. interior.
Exemption from expedited removal: UACs are exempt from expedited removal procedures, which creates gaps in immigration enforcement and serves as a pull factor for their entry
Title 42 exemption: The Biden administration's decision to exempt UACs from Title 42 coronavirus border restrictions, while maintaining them for families, has contributed to an increase in very young UACs arriving at the border
Conclusion: These loopholes collectively contribute to a "catch and release" system that allows most UACs to enter and remain in the U.S., even if they fail to appear for court hearings or comply with removal orders. This amounts to de facto open admission.
Finally, In Case You Missed It:
Here is a summary of US Border News reporting for the previous week:
US Border: Big Airport Drug Busts Snare Smugglers
Cocaine, Heroin, Pot -- and High-Dollar Designer Goods - are Seized by the Feds.
U.S. Border: Large Migrant Groups Cross - Terror Watchlist Suspects Among Them
More unaccompanied children are also crossing into Texas & Arizona
Biden-Harris Failed Children Arriving Alone at US Border Senate Report Says
500,000+ children crossed the southern border alone illegally under the Biden-Harris administration
Border Patrol Death: A Tragic Mystery - Seven Years Later
The FBI was unable to conclusively say what happened to Agent Rogelio Martinez & his partner in West Texas in November of 2017
Texas Border: Multi-Million Dollar Drug Busts in November as Feds Stay Busy
Smugglers are having a bad time on International Bridges and along the Rio Grande.
Texas Border: State Saddles Up (Again) to Patrol Rugged & Remote Frontier
State Police "Border Mounted Patrol Unit" debuts along the Rio Grande
Is this weekly newsletter meeting your needs? Feel free to share what you like (or what you would rather see from us each week instead) or any comments you may have on our website at usbordernews.com!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
We've been hearing about the numbers, but I've been wondering about the fate of unaccompanied minors.
For those with 'sponsors' - do they have these sponsors through family connections, or purely nefarious means?
Thanks for this excellent reporting. You're teaching us all so much.