Who Are the Children in Immigration Detention

Age:

The children in immigration detention range in age from very, very young (infants) to just before they turn eighteen years old.  Most of the children are young adults between 12 and 17.

Who with when caught:

Only children who have been found to be “unaccompanied” at the time they were taken into immigration custody are put into the children’s detention system.  An “unaccompanied” child is a child who: 1) has no lawful status in the US; 2) is under 18 years of age; 3) has either no parent or legal guardian in the United States or no parent or legal guardian in the United States able to provide care and custody.  A child may still be unaccompanied even if she or he is with another, non-parent, family member.  The federal agency that decides whether a child is unaccompanied or accompanied is the Department of Homeland Security, at the time the child is apprehended.

Where / when caught:

Most of the children in immigration detention were caught by immigration as they attempted to enter the country.  Many endured arduous treks in the desert without food or water.  Many rode on the tops of trains to arrive in the border area.  Many were packed into tractor trailer containers to arrive in the border area.  Many endure assaults and other violent crimes during the journey to the U.S., and while in the United States.

A much smaller, but growing, number of children are taken into immigration custody after having lived a long time in the U.S. and getting caught after having contact with local law enforcement.

Nationalities:

Most of the children in immigration detention are Central American.  They are from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.  However, a significant, though not as large, number are from Mexico; and a small number are from many other countries, including China, India, Iraq and others.  It is estimated that more than 50,000 Mexican unaccompanied children cross the border, but are repatriated through the Mexican government rather than being taken in immigration detention and removal (deportation) hearings before the Immigration Court.