A team of us at International Social Service have just completed a small project for Save the Children-UK on children on the move in Mexico, the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, and the United States.  The project focused on the mechanisms in place to protect these children. We conducted a survey in all the countries to try and understand what needs were not being met, and what services or supports would allow for better care of children who are internally or internationally displaced.  What struck us, once again, is the fact that both governmental and philanthropic funding in the U.S. almost entirely supports the legal defense of these children in immigration proceedings. Certainly, this is an important element of best practices for migrant children, but every country we investigated is in desperate need of expanded social services for these children. Once their immigration cases are concluded, there are far too few services in place to prepare children for return, or to sustain their return through reintegration services.

As we move forward in these uncertain times, we need to commit many more social service resources both here and abroad to support children on the move as they enter and exit our borders. There needs to be far better cross-border communication, cooperation, and coordination of cases involving children moving in to or out of each of our countries. We are, collectively, responsible for the long-term well-being of children in our care and children exiting our care.