Migration In The United States
No matter how much the United States tries to stop children from crossing the border there will always be some that make it across. However, that doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be policies put in place to help alleviate issues in regards to migration. Children are thought of in the world as innocent and harmless and they should be treated as such.
One policy that would help children is to provide them with adequate legal counsel (attorney) before their date in immigration court. Children do not have the knowledge and skills to successfully defend themselves in court and many are wrongfully deported as a result. According to Chen, Annie (2015) “ a study focusing on the success rates of children in immigration court for the last ten years
(Fy 2005- Fy 2014), 48 % of represented children were granted the right to remain lawfully in the United States compared to only ten percent of unrepresented children.” An increase in government funding towards legal representation would be a great way to solve this issue. Increasing the amount of legal protection for undocumented child migrants would also help the cause. These include granted Temporary Protected Status to anyone from Central American countries that are fleeing violence and humanitarian visa that would allow children from Latin America to legally visit family in the United States. Children who do not qualify for any type of protection have to be deported, but often times they are returning to extreme violence. The journey home is also dangerous and there must be policy in place to ensure that these children return home safely. Children both mentally and physically are inferior to adults and need to be treated differently. Chen, Annie suggests a “best interests standard that would force immigration adjudicators and judges would be required to take into account whether it is in the best interest if the child to remain in the United States or be deported to potentially unsafe conditions.” Further work also needs to be done in relieving problems in the child’s home country. Investing in resources to end gang violence, poverty, and oppressive government regimes will deter children from taking the unsafe journey to America. These polices will ensure that these children are safe and ensure they have a bright future.
One policy that would help children is to provide them with adequate legal counsel (attorney) before their date in immigration court. Children do not have the knowledge and skills to successfully defend themselves in court and many are wrongfully deported as a result. According to Chen, Annie (2015) “ a study focusing on the success rates of children in immigration court for the last ten years
(Fy 2005- Fy 2014), 48 % of represented children were granted the right to remain lawfully in the United States compared to only ten percent of unrepresented children.” An increase in government funding towards legal representation would be a great way to solve this issue. Increasing the amount of legal protection for undocumented child migrants would also help the cause. These include granted Temporary Protected Status to anyone from Central American countries that are fleeing violence and humanitarian visa that would allow children from Latin America to legally visit family in the United States. Children who do not qualify for any type of protection have to be deported, but often times they are returning to extreme violence. The journey home is also dangerous and there must be policy in place to ensure that these children return home safely. Children both mentally and physically are inferior to adults and need to be treated differently. Chen, Annie suggests a “best interests standard that would force immigration adjudicators and judges would be required to take into account whether it is in the best interest if the child to remain in the United States or be deported to potentially unsafe conditions.” Further work also needs to be done in relieving problems in the child’s home country. Investing in resources to end gang violence, poverty, and oppressive government regimes will deter children from taking the unsafe journey to America. These polices will ensure that these children are safe and ensure they have a bright future.