The Detention of Immigrant Children with Disabilities in California: A Snapshot

The Detention of Immigrant Children with Disabilities in California: A Snapshot

Closeup of the face of a young latino girl. She has a very sad look on her face.

The number of unaccompanied immigrant children in United States custody is at an all-time high, surpassing 14,000 as of November 2018. These children are placed into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Detention of Immigrant Children with Disabilities in California:
A Snapshot

Closeup of the face of a young latino girl. She has a very sad look on her face.
The number of unaccompanied immigrant children in United States custody is at an all-time high, surpassing 14,000 as of November 2018. These children are placed into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

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

Image of the cover of the report. It shows Closeup of the face of a young latino girl. She has a very sad look on her face.