The children come to the United States without their parents, from all corners of the world. They’re fleeing political upheaval, extreme poverty, child labor and abusive homes. In some cases they’ve come to be reunited with family members who preceded them here. The children are trafficked into the U.S., transported by hired smugglers, or make the dangerous journeys on their own. Sometimes they’re too young to understand why they’ve been sent to the United States.
In 2008, more than 8,000 unaccompanied immigrant children were taken into custody by U.S. immigration authorities. They were caught at the borders and at the airports, and then sent to shelters throughout the country where their stay can range from a month to as long as a year.
Through the Immigrant Child Advocacy Project, multilingual law students, social work students and lay volunteers are trained to serve as friends of the child or Child Advocates. Their role is to figure out what brought the children to the United States and advocate on their behalf. The Advocates get to know the children, help sort out their stories and help identify their eligibility for asylum or special protective visas. The Advocates help ensure the best interest - safety and well-being - of these vulnerable children, whether they are eligible to remain in the United States, or return to their home country.
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