Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 20, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 1000-1010

Unaccompanied Children at the United States Border, a Human Rights Crisis that can be Addressed with Policy Change (Review)

Ataiants J.* , Cohen C. , Riley A.H. , Tellez Lieberman J. , Reidy M.C. , Chilton M.
  • a Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Nesbitt Hall, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States, Behavioral Sciences Training Program, Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, 250 Park Avenue South, 6th Fl, New York, NY 10003, United States
  • b Hepatitis B Foundation, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • c Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Nesbitt Hall, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
  • d Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Nesbitt Hall, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
  • e Health Federation of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • f Department of Health Management and Policy, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract

In recent years, unaccompanied minors have been journeying to the United States (U.S.)–Mexico border in great numbers in order to escape violence, poverty and exploitation in their home countries. Yet, unaccompanied children attempting to cross the United States border face treatment at the hands of government representatives which violates their inherent rights as children. The result is a human rights crisis that has severe health consequences for the children. Their rights as children are clearly delineated in various, international human rights documents which merit increased understanding of and recognition by the U.S. government. This paper calls for the improvement of policies and procedures for addressing the rights of unaccompanied immigrant children; it provides specific, rights-based recommendations which work together to safeguard the rights of the child at the U.S. southwestern border. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee human Refugees statistics and numerical data Minors policy Mexico human rights United States Humans standards organization and management legislation and jurisprudence minor (person) migration government Southwestern United States politics Emigration and Immigration Government Agencies
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85017190919&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-017-0577-5&partnerID=40&md5=9763624fbcaeceb2766f5ed2ec008417
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0577-5
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English