UN: Thousands of Central American children seek to enter US

[webfact]

UN: Thousands of Central American children seek to enter US

By EDITH M. LEDERER

 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Thousands of children trying to escape gang violence and poverty in Central America have made their way to the United States this year — and there is no sign that the flow is letting up, the U.N. children's agency said in a report released late Monday.

 

In the first six months of 2016, UNICEF said almost 26,000 unaccompanied children were apprehended at the U.S. border along with 29,700 people traveling as a family, mostly mothers and young children.

 

Most are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, three countries with some of the world's highest murder and poverty rates, UNICEF said.

"It is heart-rending to think of these children — most of them teenagers, but some even younger — making the grueling and extremely dangerous journey in search of safety and a better life," UNICEF's Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth said in the report. "The flow of young refugees and migrants highlights the critical importance of tackling the violence and socio-economic conditions in their countries of origin."

 

The United States pressured Mexico to step up detentions of migrants after the number of unaccompanied children arriving at the U.S. border soared to more than 44,500 in the first six months of 2014. Last year, Mexican authorities apprehended nearly 36,000 children, more than half of whom were unaccompanied. By comparison, Mexico detained just 9,600 children in 2013.

 

According to Mexican government figures quoted by UNICEF, more than 16,000 migrant children from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras were apprehended in Mexico during the first six months of 2016.

 

But thousands still make it to the United States.

 

While unaccompanied children apprehended in the United States are guaranteed an immigration court hearing, they are not entitled to a court-appointed attorney.

 

But UNICEF cited data showing that having an attorney makes a huge difference.

 

A comparison of cases initiated in 2015 showed that by June 2016, 40 per cent of unrepresented children were ordered deported, compared with 3 per cent of children who had lawyers.

 

"If deported, some of them could be killed or raped by the gangs they sought to escape in the first place," UNICEF said.

 

UNICEF detailed the risks of trying to get to the U.S. in the report entitled "Broken Dreams: Central American children's dangerous journey to the United States." They range from being trafficked, kidnapped or targeted by powerful criminal syndicates to dying in the desert heat.

 

Many girls have reportedly been forced to work in brothels and bars in Mexico and Guatemala, and UNICEF quoted an Amnesty International report saying as many as six out of 10 women and girls experience sexual violence during their journey.

 

UNICEF said child migrants should not be detained and should have full access to health care and other services, and be allowed to live with their families whenever possible.

 

With its partners, UNICEF said it is working to address the causes of migration.

 

"We must remember that children, whatever their status, are first and foremost children," Forsyth said. "We have a duty to keep them safe in a healthy and nurturing environment."

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-08-23

[Usernames]

Many aren't children. Some are in fact the gang members that these scam agencies claim the "children" are running away from.  But swing open the doors.  Give away the health, education, and housing benefits that cost American taxpayers billions of dollars and, by the way, don't give a dime to the American citizens flooded out of their homes in Louisiana.

[Alive]

With so many coming, it's pretty obvious those nations are ready for a US invasion. At least their government leaders should be given and ultimatum for change or assassination. The US needs to end this bs. Invade and put some bases there. Force the people to live under the US constitution and its economic system.

[bark]

5 hours ago, Usernames said:

Many aren't children. Some are in fact the gang members that these scam agencies claim the "children" are running away from.  But swing open the doors.  Give away the health, education, and housing benefits that cost American taxpayers billions of dollars and, by the way, don't give a dime to the American citizens flooded out of their homes in Louisiana.

Yes you are correct. They are all Central American Midgets. 

Better to give it to them, as most of the American youth are illiterate. Then the Americans ,grow up to be Stupid;

sorry, I mean Trump.

[ehw200]

have spent 15 years in Central America (8 years in the Honduras

children escaping gang violence is bull sh+t for the most part

I personally have seen parents send their children by themselves via coyotes (people smugglers)

then the internet cafes and western union step in and take advantage of these people

mom and dad hit the internet weekly or more crying for more money because in a lot of cases dad can now retire

even better if these young people have a child as mom will take possession of the child and use this to extort more money from her offspring that have made it to the USA

I have even had one mother tell me that if her daughter gets thru she will not have to work any more

the same mother sent her youngest daughter (15 years old) as she was pretty and the older daughter was not

I do understand that these people are poor and looking for a better life which is the real reason for the numbers

so do not blame them

it is a culture born out of poverty,,, even tho most own their own houses of one sort or another

also there is no way most people there would not save/bank a penny if given an opportunity

give them one dollar,,, gone tomorrow,,,100 gone tomorrow 1000 gone tomorrow and so on

again different culture and values