HOMESTEAD.– The Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that a total of 140,000 unaccompanied undocumented minors entered the United States during the 2023 fiscal period, which ended on September 30, a situation that worsens the crisis. in the country.
According to Border Patrol statistics, an average of 11,500 children entered monthly. The trend does not seem to decrease because in October, which began the 2024 fiscal period, the Border Patrol found 11,592 unaccompanied minors.
Of the 140,000 who entered the country in 2023, 10,000 of them remain in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States government.
During 2023, a total of 7,482 children arrived accompanied.
Religious groups recruit families
Religious and community groups across the country are trying to recruit more foster families for the children so they can continue growing up outside of overwhelmed government facilities.
The arrival of these unaccompanied children forced the Joe Biden administration to adapt several temporary shelters to care for minors in some regions of the country.
“The number of children who are coming is impressive,” Mónica Farías, who directs the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program of the Catholic charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, told AP. “We are actively recruiting (foster) parents”
Program leaders go to churches and other community organizations every weekend to find more families like Andy and Caroline Hazelton, the temporary guardians of Sol, a girl from Argentina.
Over the past four years, this couple in their early thirties who live in a suburb of Miami, with three biological daughters, ages 8, 6, and almost 2, have taken in five immigrant minors for several months and more for shorter periods. Two teenagers were from Afghanistan, but most came from Central America.
“We were inspired by our faith,” said Andy Hazelton, adding that when they heard about families being separated at the border, “they felt the need to respond to the Gospel’s exhortation to help others as one would help Jesus.”
Help the children
Like other foster families, they say they don’t pay attention to the stridency of the political debate over immigration, but prefer to help children in need. A globe ornament on the Christmas tree in their living room is marked with dots marking the birthplaces of each family member.
“Every Christmas we have new children in our house,” added Caroline Hazelton, who said that even Afghan Muslim teenagers, who had never seen a stocking full of gifts, quickly joined in the festivities.
Regardless of the length of stay, temporary guardians say they need to give children enough stability to feel comfortable with unfamiliar American customs, from air conditioning to strict school routines, and to learn more English.
“We will never be like their parents. Thank God we live in a country where things can be easier,” said Carlos Zubizarreta. He himself was a foster child 50 years ago and has been a surrogate father in the Miami area for about 30 children for nearly two decades, in addition to having adult biological children.
In Baltimore, for a year, Jason Herring has been fostering five Central American children through a program run by the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service that focuses on short-term care for those who are evaluated for return to their biological parents. by the government.
Source: AP
