The Adoption of Runaway Kids

Immigrants crossing the southern border of the U.S. illegally used to be committing minor misdemeanors, now in recent times crossing the border was made a felony. On the same level of somebody murdering another person. Considering this as a fair and sound punishment isn’t even in question when one considers the huge chunk of people crossing the southern border to escape certain death. Thankfully, things are a little bit different for young people doing the same.

                In the year 2009 a little under 20,000 Mexican unaccompanied and underage children crossing the border where caught and detained. (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28203923)  In 2014 that number spiked to just under 60,000 Mexican children and over 40,000 children from other South American countries. Keep in mind this is the number of children detained and that were also travelling alone. These children fled their countries because of lack of economic stability and violent crime. It is the same reason as the documentary we viewed in class, moving to the U.S. to feel safe, regardless of the consequences that can arise. The punishment for these young people that try to escape hardships isn’t as harsh as you would think, and thankfully so many aren’t deported. The New York Times reported that the children are sent to shelters, where they wait for an average of 35 days and are then placed with a family member or sponsor to await their asylum hearing. (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/us/questions-about-the-border-kids.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) In addition to all of this the children received immunizations and health screenings. These children are taking good care of considering how harsh the punishment is for adults caught crossing the border. Out of the about 90,000 children detained trying to cross, only about 2,000 are deported every year.( http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/fate-most-kids-who-cross-border-staying-u-s-n153706)  Several of them are set on track for becoming citizens, despite what one would think happens to them after being detained. Unlike the struggle that immigrants have if they come the U.S. as adults, the children are given a helping hand. Immigrants can go years leading a semi-normal life and due the recently changed laws, can be detained for something as little as not having a birth certificate at hand, and end up having to leave their home and being sent back to the country they came from. The children however, are ensured that they will not be sent back to harm once detained. There is a small group of lawyers that work hard, for free, that help the children. One attorney named Bryan Johnson told NBC news, “The process is designed to ensure the children aren't sent back to harm,”

                Although the trek is most likely long and arduous for children to reach the U.S. from South American countries unaccompanied by adults, it is surely worth it for them to escape harm’s way. With the help offered to them once detained, it is good to know that most of them are able to stay in America after a very long process, without fear of ever having to leave, something that is hopefully provided to people of all ages in the future.