Providing Humanitarian Protection for Unaccompanied Minor Children
April 29, 2015

Violence perpetrated by gangs and other criminal organizations has contributed to the large numbers of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) migrating to the United States from Central America and Mexico since 2011. A new Journal on Migration and Human Security article, “Humanitarian Protection for Children Fleeing Gang-Based Violence in the Americas,” authored by Maggio + Kattar attorneys Elizabeth Carlson and Anna Marie Gallagher, describes the US government’s obligations to protect UAC upon arrival and good practices of other governments in providing humanitarian aid to migrant and refugee children. It also discusses Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and asylum claims based on gang-related violence. It concludes with recommendations designed to bring the United States into compliance with domestic and international law.