A sharp increase in the number of unaccompanied migrant children being placed in Texas has raised concerns among immigration lawyers and child welfare advocates, who fear the transfers could make deportation proceedings easier.
According to an analysis shared with The Guardian by immigration data researchers at bklg.org, almost 80% of unaccompanied children placed in immigration court proceedings in July were sent to shelter networks in Texas. The proportion rose to more than 90% in August.
Hundreds of children moved to Texas
The analysis indicates that about 925 children under the care of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), who had open immigration court proceedings, were based in Texas. About 651 were sent to the state during July and August.
Unaccompanied migrant children entering the US are generally placed under ORR custody while their immigration cases proceed. Many have travelled alone after experiencing abuse, neglect, abandonment, trafficking or other difficult circumstances.
Concerns over access to lawyers
Legal representation remains limited for many children. Nationally, only about 31.7% of children in ORR custody with active immigration proceedings had a notice of legal representation filed, according to the analysis cited by The Guardian.
The rates reported for children in Texas were considerably lower, including 8.7% in San Antonio, 17.2% in Houston and 18.6% in El Paso. Advocates have therefore expressed concern that children transferred to Texas could face immigration proceedings without adequate legal assistance.
The developments come amid wider changes to the Trump administration’s immigration policies and growing legal efforts concerning children held in federal custody. More than 50 legal organisations have recently joined efforts seeking court intervention in cases involving detained migrant children.