A Surge of Children Crossing the Border: What Happens to Them?
4 min read 
The number of migrants illegally crossing the southern border is reaching a 20-year high, with the number of unaccompanied children increasing 63% last month, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The figures have accelerated under the Biden administration, and the influx continues to strain government resources and threatens to push border facilities over capacity with children. The increase has been seen in not only the number of unaccompanied child migrants but also the number of family units, which include adults traveling with children.
Migrants detained at the Mexican border
Child migrants range in age from toddlers to teenagers, the youngest often traveling with older siblings or other relatives who are typically also under 18. Most children who cross the border are male, and they typically arrive without a parent or legal guardian. Nearly half of all unaccompanied children in 2020 arrived from Guatemala, up from about a third in 2012.
Percentage of unaccompanied minors arriving in the U.S.
Percentage of unaccompanied minors arriving in the U.S.
Percentage of unaccompanied minors arriving in the U.S.
Percentage of unaccompanied minors
arriving in the U.S.
Under immigration law, the government can’t deport children as quickly as individual adults and families. Most families and single adults are sent back to Mexico as a result of regulations put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because there is a chance that children may have been trafficked or fled an abusive parent, they must be given the opportunity to apply for asylum after illegally crossing the border and can’t be automatically deported. About 80% of the minors have relatives in the U.S. and 40% have a parent, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Shelters for children had been operating at reduced capacity because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but officials have begun reducing some of the social-distancing measures
The process for children who cross the border
Children are taken to Border Patrol stations where they are given a medical screening and agents work to identify them. They await shelter availability, many of which are
overcrowded.
Expected wait: 72 hours but it’s often longer
Children are transferred to shelters that are licensed to care for children.
A family member or friend is identified as a potential
sponsor
Children can be placed with other vetted sponsors, akin to a foster family.
In rare cases, children can be held until they are 18 and then face deportation.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement identifies and vets a sponsor. The child is released to them while they await court proceedings.
Children are taken to Border Patrol stations where they are given a
medical screening and agents work to identify them. They await shelter availability, many of which are
overcrowded.
Expected wait: 72 hours but it’s often longer
Children are transferred to shelters that are licensed to care for children.
A family member or friend is identified as a potential
sponsor
Children can be placed with other vetted sponsors, akin to a foster family.
In rare cases, children can be held until they are 18 and then face deportation.
The Office of Refugee
Resettlement identifies and vets a sponsor. The child is released to them while they await court proceedings.
Children are taken to Border Patrol stations where they are given a
medical screening and agents work to identify them. They await shelter availability, many of which are
overcrowded.
Expected wait: 72 hours but it’s often longer
Children are transferred to shelters that are licensed to care for children.
A family member or friend is identified as a potential
sponsor
Children can be placed with other vetted sponsors, akin to a foster family.
In rare cases, children can be held until they are 18 and then face deportation.
The Office of Refugee
Resettlement identifies and vets a sponsor. The child is released to them while they await court proceedings.
Children are taken to Border Patrol stations where they are given a
medical screening and agents work to identify them. They await shelter availability, many of which are
overcrowded.
Expected wait: 72 hours but often longer
Children are transferred to shelters that are licensed to care for children.
A family member or friend is identified as a potential
sponsor
Children can be placed with other vetted
sponsors, akin to a foster family.
In rare cases,
children can be held until they are 18 and then be deported.
The Office of Refugee
Resettlement identifies and vets a sponsor.
A large share of unaccompanied children are sponsored by people in urban areas in states with historically large immigrant populations, such as California and Texas. In recent years, many states on the East Coast, including Virginia and Maryland, have taken increasing numbers of unaccompanied children.
Annual average number of unaccompanied children
released to sponsors by state, FY 2015-2020
Total number released
to sponsors by county*,
FY 2015- Jan. 2021
New shelters for unaccompanied minors opened in Midland and Dallas Monday
Harris County, Texas:
16,577 (most)
Annual average number of unaccompanied children
released to sponsors by state, FY 2015-2020
Total number released
to sponsors by county*,
FY 2015- Jan. 2021
New shelters for unaccompanied minors opened in Midland and Dallas Monday
Harris County, Texas:
16,577 (most)
Annual average number of
unaccompanied children released
to sponsors by state, FY 2015-2020
Total number released
to sponsors by county*,
FY 2015- Jan. 2021
New shelters for unaccompanied minors opened in Midland and Dallas Monday
Harris County, Texas:
16,577 (most)
Annual average number of unaccompanied
children released to sponsors by state,
FY 2015-2020
Total number released
to sponsors by county*,
FY 2015- Jan. 2021
Harris County, Texas: 16,577 (most)
Immigration Challenge for Biden Administration
Write to Max Rust at max.rust@dowjones.com and Maureen Linke at Maureen.Linke@wsj.com
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