Unaccompanied immigrant children are one of the most vulnerable, poorly understood, and rapidly growing populations in the United States. New York has become home to the third highest community of UIC, just behind Texas and California. These children are defined as being separated from their families and lacking immigration status. Often, these youth are fleeing dangerous and abusive situations from their home countries and are looking to come to the United States to reunite with lost family members and to start a better life. Unfortunately, many unaccompanied children experience vulnerabilities, including exploitation, poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to justice, healthcare, and education. Although these vulnerabilities exist, these youth have personal aspirations that can make them resilient.
The Feerick Center partnered with the Vera Institute of Justice to issue a report of findings on a participatory action research (PAR) study done in collaboration with two community based partners—Catholic Charities Community Services and Atlas: DIY. The report was titled Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth in New York: Struggle for Identity and Inclusion—A Participatory Action Research Study. Participatory action research involves study subjects in the design and implementation of research; this study involved training and working with two peer researchers who had previously been unaccompanied immigrant youth themselves. The Leon Lowenstein Foundation, the New York Community Trust, and the Viola Bernard Foundation funded the study with pro bono support from the law firm of Jenner & Block.
The PAR study used in-depth interviews and focus groups to learn more about unaccompanied immigrant youth in New York and their needs. The study engaged a variety of stakeholders including government officials, advocates, legal and social services providers, and mental health experts as well as young people. The unaccompanied youth discussed many issues, including their struggle for identity and the youths’ interactions with local service sectors such as education, employment, health, and housing:
Identity Crisis – An overwhelming number of youth agreed that they were unable to describe themselves. Instead, they were forced to adapt to the identity that society was prescribing to them—unaccompanied and undocumented. Identity is important for young people and their self-esteem. Stereotyping such as that described by the immigrant youth can lead to psychological distress.
Housing – New York City has a shelter system that will accept youth regardless of immigration status but this is far from a permanent solution. Youth crisis shelters allow anyone under the age of 21 to stay for 30 days, with the possibility for another 30-day extension. There is also transitional housing up to 23 months but this resource can be difficult to access because many of the programs require that you be either in school or working—both of which can be challenging for unaccompanied immigrant youth to secure.
Employment – Employment is a difficult process because many unaccompanied youth do not have authorization to work in the United States, which leads to struggle to find a high paying job because they are “off the books”. Even those who are in the process have to wait. Youth are faced with the struggle of dropping out of school to work because they cannot survive otherwise.
Education – Anyone under the age of 21 has the right to free, public education regardless of their immigration status. However, this still remains an uphill battle for unaccompanied youth because of administrative and other barriers.
Healthcare – Many unaccompanied youth suffer from physical and mental illness; however, healthcare is not necessarily seen as an immediate need. New York State sponsored insurance limits eligibility to individuals under 19 years of age.
The report recommends the following next steps for policy-makers and researchers to expand the rights of unaccompanied immigrant youth:
- Additional fact-finding and evaluation is required to better identify service needs, gaps in services, and effective service delivery approaches and to inform practice and policy related to unaccompanied immigrant youth.
- New York City and New York State government officials should consider convening task forces comprised of government officials, nonprofit stakeholders, and immigrant youth and families to facilitate planning and policy development.
- A statement of principles and values or a Declaration of Inclusion by New York City or the Mayor would address discrimination against immigrant youth.
- New York City and New York State governments are obligated to ensure the safety and basic needs of unaccompanied immigrant children. Their long-term stability and well being, however, can only come through regularized legal status.