The grim reality of our broken immigration system.
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B Stands for Broken 

Good afternoon, 

In recent weeks, troubling reports have surfaced regarding the treatment
of migrant children and families. These reports do not reflect our
American values, but sadly show the grim reality of our broken
immigration system.   

An investigation by the New York Times
<[link removed]> found
that over 100 unaccompanied migrant children, after being released to
sponsors by the United States Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), were working at jobs in violation of child labor laws. Instead of
attending school, children under 16 have been working long hours in
often dangerous conditions to provide money for their sponsors and/or
their families back home. Despite it being a requirement of sponsors to
send migrant children to school, it is not uncommon for migrant children
to drop out completely to work in places such as factories,
slaughterhouses, hotels, and construction sites.  

The number of unaccompanied migrant children arriving in the U.S. has
more than tripled in the last five years, reaching a record
<[link removed]> 130,000
in 2022. This has put additional pressure on caseworkers to speed
through the sponsorship vetting process and move minors out of
government shelters. The NYT report was released shortly after the
United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced
<[link removed]> that
it had found 102 children, including unaccompanied minors, cleaning
slaughterhouses for one of the largest food sanitation companies in the
U.S.  

In response to these reports, the federal government is undertaking new
efforts
<[link removed]> to
address child labor violations and caring for unaccompanied migrant
children. The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
is investigating
<[link removed]> how
unaccompanied minors were hired and whether human trafficking and
smuggling was involved. DOL
<[link removed]> is creating
an interagency taskforce to combat child labor exploitation as well as a
strategic enforcement initiative on child labor. HHS will now have
mandated follow up calls when an unaccompanied minor reports a safety
issue and there will be expanded post release services for unaccompanied
children. 

With the upcoming end of Title 42
<[link removed]> restrictions
in May, officials are also discussing how to handle the expected
increase in border crossings. Last month, the Biden administration
announced a proposed rule
<[link removed]> that
would drastically restrict asylum eligibility for migrants who attempt
to cross the southern border without authorization. The rule targets
migrants who travel to Mexico from another country to seek asylum in the
U.S. If implemented, asylum seekers would have to follow DHS-approved
parole process, use a phone app to schedule an appointment at a port of
entry, or prove that they applied for and were denied asylum in another
country before arriving at the border. Exceptions will be made,
including for those in imminent danger as well as unaccompanied minors.
The Biden administration is also reportedly
<[link removed]> considering
reinstating the use of migrant family detention
<[link removed]>,
despite criticizing the Trump administration for doing so and ending the
policy two years ago. Family separation has been well-documented
<[link removed]> to
cause trauma, disturbed development and neurological damage in
children.   

Migrant families currently face a lose-lose situation. Given these
potential policy changes, desperate families may urge their children to
make the journey to the U.S.-Mexico border alone, making them vulnerable
to violence along the way and further exploitation upon arrival. It is a
risk that no one should have to take - and one that the U.S. can
prevent by focusing on efforts to make our immigration system more
humane and efficient. Join us in urging Congress
<[link removed]> to support commonsense immigration
reforms.  

 

Stay hopeful and committed, 

Nora 

 

**Nora Coyne **
Field and Constituencies Manager 
National Immigration Forum  

 
NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE: 

**BORDER REPORT:** Suicide attempts highlight mental health concerns in
immigrant detention
<[link removed]> 

**ABC NEWS:** DACA recipients leaving US, disheartened by legal limbo
<[link removed]> 

**ASSOCIATED PRESS:** Plunge in border crossings could blunt GOP attack
on Biden
<[link removed]> 

**FLORIDA PHOENIX:** Former FL GOP chair Cardenas: Proposal to stop
in-state tuition for FL dreamers is 'mean spirited'
<[link removed]> 

**AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN:** 'Sí se puede': Hundreds rally to demand
an end to Gov. Abbott's Operation Lone Star
<[link removed]> 

 

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