Forced from home: The lost boys and girls from Central America

Increasing drug and organized crime violence in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador is the primary reason behind a dramatic upsurge in the number of unaccompanied immigrant children crossing the border into the United States, and until conditions in these countries change substantially, this trend will be the new norm. The report examines why more children than ever are fleeing to the U.S. and recognizes the need for greater transnational cooperation to address the violence facing Central American youth. It also addresses the treatment of children by U.S. government officials upon apprehension and includes recommendations on how to best respond to this ongoing influx.