Factsheet US

Historically, the United States has been the main destination country for migrants. In 2021, 1.7 million encounters were registered at the U.S. southern border, with almost 147,000 unaccompanied children and adolescents. Today’s migration flows are increasingly made up of Central American and Mexican families and unaccompanied children who request asylum. They flee persecution and threats of violence, or move for economic reasons, often linked to climate-related disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. Family reunification is also a major driver, especially for children traveling alone.