Migrant Children Detention: What Happens When Migrant Children Are Separated from Their Parents?

Migrant children are children who are living outside the country they were born in or who have migrated within the border of their own country—also known as internal migration. These children and their families are often seeking refuge in a new country or region due to problems like war, famine, and poverty. In 2020, there were 281 million international migrants, and 36 million of them were children.

However, many migrant families get separated during their journey toward a better life. This is alarming because migrant children separated from their parents face significantly more dangers on their own, such as forced labor, physical abuse and violence, child marriage, sexual exploitation, and even death. It can also lead to migrant children being detained when trying to cross borders and that can be harmful in a number of ways.

Migrant Children Detention Camps

Detention camps—also referred to as migrant children detention centers—are often used to hold unaccompanied children as they wait for reunification with other family members in a new country or they are placed with a legal sponsor. Although all 193 UN Member States acknowledged the importance of working towards ending migrant child detention when they adopted the 2016 UN New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, migrant child detention remains common in many countries.

However, detained migrant children frequently face circumstances that are harmful to them while they are being held. Here are just a few of the ways they can be negatively affected:

• Their education is jeopardized;
• They may not get the proper nutrients and food they require;
• They can be treated like criminals, even in so-called “child-friendly” detention centers;
• They may get little to no outdoor recreation;
• Being separated from their parents and communities can cause psychological trauma that can impact migrant children for the rest of their lives. This is especially harmful to children who have already suffered the trauma of war and violence.
  

Migrant children in detention face many harmful—and unnecessary—risks to their overall well-being. Alternatives to child migrant detention have been identified and proven to work in countries that implemented them. These include placing migrant children and their families together within communities in that country until a decision can be made about their asylum case.

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including migrant children. Together with our partner agencies, we are working on reunification efforts to connect migrant children with their families, as well as attempting to change governmental policies around the world to protect the rights of migrant children. 

Our Child Safeguarding Policy emphasizes our commitment to the children we serve, promoting their best interests and rights in accordance with international standards. We are also trying to eliminate underlying issues like poverty by protecting labor rights and improving working conditions for vulnerable communities. Find out how you can make a difference and help us protect migrant children today!