Immigration law is quite complex and many people can make simple mistakes that can be severely detrimental to their chances of staying in the country. This is why many people, whether seeking asylum or applying for an employment immigration visa, turn to immigration lawyers for help. While an adult would know to ask for legal help, a child might not. With the recent influx of children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador making the long journey from their home countries to the U.S., there may be a considerable number of children not realizing the importance of working with an immigration lawyer.
One of the reasons why these children are fleeing their home countries and coming to the U.S. is because they mistakenly believe that President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which prevents the deportation of immigrants who arrived as children before 2007, will also cover them. Many more, however, are seeking asylum from the violence that is ravaging their countries.
Others still are looking for their parents and/or relatives. Since there are immigrants from Central America across the country, it would not be unusual for children left behind in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to travel to York in search of their parents.
Though some of these children have managed to make it to Pennsylvania without getting caught by border patrol agents, many others will surrender to law enforcement the moment they cross the border. According to federal law, police cannot turn back unaccompanied minors if they come from a country other than Canada or Mexico.
Needless to say, the next couple of years will likely be filled with numerous asylum applications.
Source: Education Week, “U.S. Schools Gear Up for Surge of Young Immigrants,” Lesli A. Maxwell, June 27, 2014