Navigating the Immigration Process Alone: Unaccompanied Minors Experiences in the United States
Navigating the Immigration Process Alone: Unaccompanied Minors Experiences in the United States

Author(s): Jennica Larrison, Mariglynn Edlins
Subject(s): Geography, Regional studies, Security and defense, Family and social welfare, Migration Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: unaccompanied minors; UM; migration; USA;
Summary/Abstract: Unaccompanied minors (UMs) in the United States first garnered national attention in 2014. In the summer of 2014, an unprecedented number of UMs (68,541) entered the United States from the US-Mexico border. While the number of youth crossing appeared alarming in itself-the rate was a 77% increase over the previous year-a significant shift in origin of UMs also dramatically affected the way in which the Government would respond. The majority of unaccompanied youth previously crossing the border were from Mexico, however by 2014 the majority were from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras (Department of Homeland Security, 2014). Youth continue to cross and in 2018, the United States apprehended 50,036 UMs, with 76% from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

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