In Mexico, more than 6000 children migrants were detained in 2012.
Of these, seven out of ten traveled alone.
Mexican immigration law requires that unaccompanied migrant children are referred to the DIF, but most of them – 80% – are over 12 years old, so the system does not accept them.
This means these adolescents – aged between 12 to 18 years- remain in detention centers until the deportation process is concluded.
An expert panel was convened to discuss this exact issue in Mexico City.
Convened by El Colegio de la Frontera Norte and the International Detention Coalition, the expert roundtable aimed to progress law, policy and practice on this issue.
Press release: Regional solutions IDC presser 041213 (1)