Migration of Children and Adolescents
The rights of migrant children and adolescents travel with them and must be respected.
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The Challenge
Lack of opportunities, violence, limited access to services and quality education, as well as the need for family reunification, affect the lives of children and adolescents from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico. These circumstances force them to make the difficult decision to leave their countries of origin in search of a better future.
In many cases, children travel alone toward the Mexico–United States border.
Migrant children are vulnerable to situations that may violate their rights, including:
- Being detained.
- Being exposed to organized crime or human trafficking.
- Experiencing sexual violence and discrimination.
- Suffering from hunger and exposure to cold.
- Lacking access to healthcare services.
Every day, 300 Guatemalan children and adolescents are detained at the borders of Mexico and the United States.
In 2017, according to data from the Migration Policy Unit of Mexico's Ministry of the Interior, migration authorities identified 18,300 foreign children (from the Northern Triangle of Central America: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador) within Mexican territory. Of these, 16,162 were returned to their countries of origin.
Migrant children are at risk of experiencing hunger and cold during their journey, suffering from illnesses without access to healthcare services, being exploited by organized crime, and being detained. They may also face other forms of violence and discrimination from people in the communities they pass through. All these situations have serious consequences for their mental health and well-being.
Solutions
As a key part of the response to the detention of children and adolescents in migration detention centers, UNICEF has developed an alternative care model for unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents, along with a manual for its implementation. This model includes the following alternative care options: open-door shelters, specialized apartments and family-based care.
We have also worked with specialists from various fields to develop a set of tools that support the protection of the rights of migrant children and adolescents throughout their journey through Mexico and the United States. These tools aim to promote resilience and provide valuable information to help children and adolescents practice self-care, reflect on their experiences and protect their rights.
Campaign
What Happens? What Should I Do?
Many Guatemalan children and adolescents see migration as a possible way to secure their livelihood and seek opportunities, escape situations of violence and protect their lives, or reunite with their parents in the destination country, among other reasons. Most migrate to Mexico and the United States through irregular or unauthorized channels.
The journey is dangerous at every stage, as they are exposed to theft and extortion, and face a high risk of becoming victims of sexual violence, human trafficking and exploitation. They may also suffer serious accidents, be abandoned or even lose their lives.
Those who manage to cross the United States border may be detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP, for its acronym in English) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE, for its acronym in English). They are then transferred to processing centers and shelters, where authorities determine whether they require special protection measures and/or locate their family members to initiate a family reunification process.
Through its consular network, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the institution responsible for providing consular protection and assistance to Guatemalan migrant children and adolescents (hereinafter referred to as children) outside the national territory.
The What Happens? What Should I Do? campaign is an information and response mechanism about migration processes, aimed at migrant children and adolescents and their families.