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Unaccompanied Children in America

A Reference Handbook

Unaccompanied Children in America cover

Unaccompanied Children in America

A Reference Handbook

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Pre-order. Available May 14 2026
$78.84 RRP $98.55 Website price saving $19.71 (20%)

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Description

How many unaccompanied children enter US territory every year? What challenges, dangers, and risk factors are they most likely to face on their migration journeys? What immigration policies and laws determine how their cases are treated in America? Are most unaccompanied children fleeing political violence? What agencies and programs in the USA are responsible for housing these children, processing their cases, and determining their legal status? This all-in-one resource provides insights into every facet of the debates surrounding unaccompanied immigrant children and their experiences on both sides of the US border.

Table of Contents

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 UC-Kerri Evans
Exploitation of Unaccompanied Children: The Intersection of Immigration, Labor, and Policy-Zayna Lyon
Navigating the Immigration System to Reunite Families with Their Separated Children-Maryam Rafieifar

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

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published May 14 2026
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 320
ISBN 9798765116616
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 7 bw
Series Contemporary World Issues
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Robert G. Hasson III

Robert G. Hasson III is Associate Professor of Soc…

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