The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for housing unaccompanied immigrant children in a variety of placements ranging from short-term foster care to locked juvenile detention facilities. Many of these children arrive having experienced trauma, including symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions. Some children also have physical, sensory, or other disabilities.

Disability Rights California (DRC) interviewed approximately 150 immigrant children held in ORR custody. These interviews were part of DRC’s monitoring effort aimed at increasing transparency and ensuring the fair treatment of immigrant children with disabilities.

Please download our report and support our efforts to help immigrant children with disabilities.

Media Coverage

• California’s Inland Empire Considered By Federal Government As Location For New Center To Hold Detained Migrant Youth - California Healthline 08/21/19
• Feds Eye Inland Empire for Major New Site to House Unaccompanied Migrant Children - KQED 08/20/19
• Yolo County appears ready to end federal contract for immigrant teen detention center - SacBee 08/09/19
• Report: California Immigration Facilities Failing Kids With Disabilities - KQED 07/01/19