The surge of unaccompanied minors crossing the US’ borders

It is no secret that one of the primary goals of President Joe Biden’s administration is to reform the entire immigration system and implement more humane policies to protect the most vulnerable immigrant communities and expand alternatives available to highly skilled foreign workers, international students and family members of American citizens or LPRs (Lawful Permanent Residents).

However, the Biden administration is currently facing a crossroads regarding his immigration proposals due to a substantial increase in illegal border crossings, jeopardizing its ideal of promoting comprehensive immigration reform. The current controversy at the borders is mainly related to unaccompanied immigrant minors, who come to the US without resources to survive and ask for international protection while trying to flee from precarious situations such as abuse, famine, violence or war.

In fiscal year 2021 (October-September) to date, the CBP (Customs and Border Protection), which is one of the entities in charge of preventing illicit activity such as irregular immigration at the borders, has reported a total of 29,729 minors apprehended at the borders unaccompanied (until February).

Unaccompanied minors encounter statistics for fiscal year 2021 are about to exceed those of fiscal year 2020 (33,239 minors). It is worth mentioning that irregular migration decreased considerably during 2020 due to the health crisis caused by the global Coronavirus pandemic and border restrictions.

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This is not the first time that border forces encounter thousands of minors

The attention of the American public and the news media is strongly focused on the current border situation mainly because President Biden’s immigration proposals are diametrically opposed to his predecessor’s, former President Donald Trump, which gives space to opposition groups to disparage and criticize the current administration’s ideals when it comes to the immigration system.

However, the reality is that, since the beginning of the 21st century, border forces such as CBP have periodically reported a surge of illegal border crossings, which undoubtedly includes a wave of unaccompanied immigrant minors, who come mainly from Central American territory.

The fact that the Biden administration, unlike the Trump administration, is not deporting unaccompanied immigrant minors, makes the figures and the situation at the borders more notorious and alarming despite the fact that even Trump had to face an increase in illegal border crossings during 2019.

In fact, according to a recent report by The Atlantic called “America’s Immigration Amnesia“, border forces have witnessed cycles in which the numbers of apprehensions at the borders, including encounters with unaccompanied minors, rise disproportionately from a month to another, and it does not always depend on the administration of the US, but on circumstances inherent to Central American countries.

The report reveals that there have been several cycles of high irregular immigration dating back to early 2000, then there were other episodes in which federal agencies apprehended thousands of unaccompanied immigrant minors at the borders in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019.

Following legal guidelines is the best option for your immigration process

We understand that starting an immigration process requires constant dedication and expert help. Our team is highly qualified to guide you through your immigration journey in the US, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

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