As more immigrants from Central America cross the U.S. Border into desert border communities like Yuma, the immigration system under the Trump Administration is struggling to keep up. One article from the Washington Post discusses how immigration in the Border Patrol’s Yuma sector is rising. In particular, apprehensions of children have significantly increased in the last year.
During the first seven months of the fiscal year 2019, close to 169,000 immigrant youths have surrendered to authorities at the southern border. According to federal records, more than half of these children are under the age of 12. In the past, most underage migrants surrendering at the border were teenagers and only accounted for 10% to 20% of all crossings. Today, immigrant minors make up 37% percent of all border crossings.
Reports indicate that more immigrant families are attempting to cross into the U.S. through the Arizona border. This is primarily because there is a strong sense that the Trump Administration is focusing its efforts on the Texas border along the Rio Grande. Arizona also doesn’t have as much space as Texas for detention beds, which means the minors are more likely to be released after they have been detained by Border Patrol.
Recently, the Trump administration announced it would be restricting or canceling education, legal aid, and playground recreation for migrant children housed in government shelters. According to administration officials, substantial financial constraints have been created by the “crisis at the border,” resulting in the cutbacks.
In a statement, The Health and Human Services Department said its Office of Refugee Resettlement has been instructed to begin scaling back or discontinuing awards for U.A.C. (unaccompanied minor) activities that are not directly necessary for the protection of life and safety, including education services, legal services, and recreation.”
Contact our Dedicated Legal Advocates Today
At Kanu & Associates, P.C., we sympathize with families coming to the United States to seek asylum and flee from violence and poverty in their home countries. Our lawyers know how difficult policies initiated under the Trump administration have made the journey, which is why we are here to fight for the rights of immigrants seeking asylum and citizenship. The fact that this administration plans to cut education services, legal services, and recreation, is very concerning, and we plan to use our extensive resources and knowledge of the law to help those who are impacted most.
Our legal team is here to fight for you and guide you through your path to citizenship. Call (602) 353-7795 today to request your consultation.