Unaccompanied immigrant minors

The US is known for welcoming and protecting the most vulnerable immigrant communities, including children. Normally, dozens of unaccompanied minors arrive at the country’s borders on a daily basis to ask for international protection as they try to flee from danger, abuse, violence, war or persecution.

The US law is quite strict when it comes to minors since they are often victims of gangs, abuse (both physical and psychological), kidnapping, human trafficking, inter alia. Therefore, local law states that border entities cannot detain minors for more than 72 hours. They must be transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which is one of the branches of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The ORR offers them protection, professional care, medical assistance, legal support for their immigration cases, food and basic services for their well-being. However, the ORR facilities are normally full due to the number of unaccompanied minors arriving at the borders.

Therefore, the lack of space and social distancing has increased the massive outbreak of Coronavirus in these centers, putting the health of both immigrant minors and federal employees at risk.

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Coronavirus cases among immigrant children increase sharply in recent weeks

The number of unaccompanied immigrant minors infected with COVID-19 has increased disproportionately in recent weeks.

Let’s look at official figures from federal records:

• Currently, there are approximately 3,300 minors in the ORR custody.
• Since March 2020 (first massive outbreak), 1,061 minors have tested positive for the Coronavirus.
• As of mid-November, there were 781 cases reported among minors, which means that the number increased more than 35% in a matter of weeks.
• No minors have been hospitalized and the vast majority have already recovered.
• Currently, there are 118 positive cases among immigrant minors, who are in preventive isolation to avoid the spread of the virus.

The federal agency states that most unaccompanied minors were already infected with COVID-19 before arriving at its facilities.

Adding to that, since Democratic nominee Joe Biden won the election, the situation in Central America is not favorable, there have been several natural disasters, and border restrictions are already being lifted, federal employees fear that a wave of underage immigrants will suddenly reach the borders of the US, increasing the sanitary risk and worsening the health crisis in the country, which continues to be the main epicenter of the global pandemic.

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Follow legal processes and protect your future

The branches of the US immigration system offer multiple alternatives for foreigners to choose the option that best suits their needs. The best recommendation is to follow legal parameters, seek reliable help, and protect the future of next generations.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.