IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i5p4496-d1086496.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Experiences of Undocumented Parents Reuniting with Children Who Entered the United States as Unaccompanied Minors

Author

Listed:
  • Maryam Rafieifar

    (Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA)

  • Miriam Potocky

    (School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA)

  • Hui Huang

    (School of Social Work, University of Texas in Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA)

  • Richard L. Beaulaurier

    (School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA)

  • Sloan Bruan Lorenzini

    (School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA)

Abstract

In 2021, the United States saw an exponential influx of unaccompanied migrant children crossing the U.S.–Mexico border. Upon apprehension at the border, unaccompanied children are placed in the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) temporary shelter facilities. The ORR is responsible for locating, vetting, and releasing the children to their family, guardians, or a suitable sponsor. Undocumented parents seeking reunification may fear cross-examination and background checks. This study aimed to explore the experiences of undocumented families reunified with their children with the help of a community-based organization (CBO). A collective case study method was used to collect qualitative data from seven parents. Respondent parents expressed their rationale for allowing their children to cross the U.S.–Mexico border, their experience with the ORR, and the reasons they pursued community-based guidance. The results document the depth of trauma and difficulties parents of unaccompanied migrant children face with American service providers. It is recommended that immigration-related government agencies form relationships with culturally diverse organizations that are trusted by immigrant communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Maryam Rafieifar & Miriam Potocky & Hui Huang & Richard L. Beaulaurier & Sloan Bruan Lorenzini, 2023. "Experiences of Undocumented Parents Reuniting with Children Who Entered the United States as Unaccompanied Minors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4496-:d:1086496
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4496/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4496/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dettlaff, Alan J. & Rycraft, Joan R., 2010. "Adapting systems of care for child welfare practice with immigrant Latino children and families," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 303-310, August.
    2. Linton, Julie M. & Kennedy, Elizabeth & Shapiro, Alan & Griffin, Marsha, 2018. "Unaccompanied children seeking safe haven: Providing care and supporting well-being of a vulnerable population," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 122-132.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jaime La Charite & Elizabeth W. Tucker & Julia Rosenberg & Janine Young & Nikita Gupta & Katherine Hoops, 2023. "Understanding the Healthcare Needs of Immigrant Children Currently and Previously in Government Custody: A Narrative," Laws, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, February.
    2. Lin, Ching-Hsuan & Chiang, Pamela P. & Lux, Emily A. & Lin, Hsiu-Fen, 2018. "Immigrant social worker practice: An ecological perspective on strengths and challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 103-113.
    3. Garcia, Antonio & Aisenberg, Eugene & Harachi, Tracy, 2012. "Pathways to service inequalities among Latinos in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1060-1071.
    4. Crea, Thomas M. & Lopez, Anayeli & Taylor, Theresa & Underwood, Dawnya, 2017. "Unaccompanied migrant children in the United States: Predictors of placement stability in long term foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 93-99.
    5. Natalie Wichelt & Kenny Torres & Gabriela de la Vega & Julie M. Linton & Kimberly Montez, 2022. "Legal Relief for Children in Immigrant Families: A Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-12, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4496-:d:1086496. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.