Children's Rights
International Children's Day - November 20, 2003
Thank you to all who took action
- USA: Unaccompanied Children
- PAKISTAN: Child Prisoners
- RUSSIA: Children with Mental Disabilities
- More Actions
- See 2004 Action
- USA: Unaccompanied Children in Immigration Detention
Each year the US government finds more than 5,000 foreign-born children in the United States unaccompanied by a parent or guardian -- and puts them into detention, often for months, although most of them have committed no crime. Escaping political persecution, fleeing war, abusive families, or other dangerous or difficult conditions in their home countries, these children have arrived in the United States and are detained for administrative reasons.
 Young illegal immigrants from Mexico face a U.S. immigration officer. (© Alon Reininger) |
Unaccompanied children in the United States immigration system are routinely deprived of their rights, such as those to humane treatment and to be free from arbitrary detention. Unaccompanied children are often locked up together with juveniles convicted of crimes and are denied access to education and exercise. Many of these children have no lawyers and no one to represent their best interests, so they are often forced to defend themselves against a government immigration trial lawyer who seeks to have them deported to their home country.
In celebration of International Children's Day (November 20), Amnesty International USA is inviting activists to send personal cards and letters to two children - Rose Termitus and Denis Ayala - who are being held in immigration detention. Often, detainees fear they have been forgotten by the world, but a simple letter can renew hope. Please take this action to show your support and solidarity and let Rose and Denis know that they have not been forgotten.