Legal Framework

Convention on the Rights of the Child — Article 22

Requires states to provide appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance to refugee children, whether accompanied or unaccompanied, and to cooperate in tracing family members and facilitating family reunification.

Related incidents

1 incident

Midnight Deportation of 76 Guatemalan Children: Labor Day Weekend Mass Removal Attempt

The administration attempted a mass deportation of unaccompanied minor children in the middle of the night during a holiday weekend, circumventing legal protections that require children to appear …

  • On August 31, 2025 (Labor Day weekend), 76 unaccompanied Guatemalan children in US government custody were roused from their beds around …
  • HHS began contacting shelter care providers around 10:00 PM Central time on August 30, ordering them to prepare children for immediate …