Through its Safe Passages programs, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) ensures that children traveling without adult relatives and without legal immigration documents are provided safe and appropriate services while in federal custody.

Undocumented unaccompanied migrating children are apprehended daily in the United States at borders, ports of entry and the interior. They are separated from family who remain in their country of origin or who are living in the U.S. Some children have lost their families to civil conflict, random violence, natural disasters or natural causes. Others were forced to flee their home countries to escape violence of abuse or exploitation, while still others make the journey with the hopes of reuniting with their parents or siblings. These children are alone and scared and are seeking safe haven or family reunification in the U.S. Unfortunately, migrating children may face further violence in the hands of smugglers, traffickers or robbers en route to the U.S. Upon entering the country without documentation, many of these children are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security. Separated from adult family members, they are faced with the uncertainties of being held in federal custody and awaiting their case determination.

USCCB/MRS & Undocumented Children

Through its programs, MRS ensures that children traveling without adult relatives and without legal immigration documents receive appropriate services while in the custody of the U.S. government. MRS works with a network of more than 100 diocesan offices to provide services for migrating undocumented children to help ensure their safety and well-being.

The Safe Passages Program is funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement/Division of Unaccompanied Children’s Services (ORR/DUCS). The program serves unaccompanied, undocumented children who have been apprehended by immigration officials and who are in federal custody. The program provides family reunification services through a suitability assessment process and follow up services to ensure safe and appropriate family reintegration. For children in custody who are not able to be reunited with family, The Safe Passages program also places some of these children in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors programs for specialized foster care or group home care. Through a joint effort between USCCB/MRS and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), recommendations regarding the placement, transfer and release of children in custody are made to the federal government. The field coordinators are assigned to locations where there are high apprehensions of unaccompanied children.

Each child that is referred to the Safe Passages program has a unique migration experience although most share strong feelings of isolation, homesickness and general anxiety over their uncertain futures. The Safe Passages clearinghouse is intended to further augment the skills and knowledge base of child welfare professionals and others by linking them to resources that address many of the issues facing undocumented unaccompanied children.