United States - IOM is deeply concerned about the current mass migration of children from Central America and Mexico to the United States, which President Barack Obama has identified as a “humanitarian crisis.”

In recent weeks, a wave of children has crossed the US-Mexican border to join their families, to escape violence and poverty in their home communities, or for economic opportunities.  It is estimated that the number of children entering the U.S. in 2014 will be more than double the number from last year, with thousands arriving unaccompanied every month.

Some 80% of children detected crossing the border are said to be from Central America.

The increased numbers of children traveling through Central America are at a level never before witnessed by IOM. The organization is seeing more and more children as young as 18 months old entrusted to smugglers.

When these unaccompanied children travel north, they are often in the hands of smugglers, or ‘coyotes’, and risk a perilous journey which includes threats of abduction, rape, and even death.  The ability of transit countries to deal with the situation is strained, and once in the U.S., the government’s capacity to properly receive and assist child migrants is equally stretched.

IOM, through its presence in all countries in the region, has considerable experience addressing these challenges.  Through information campaigns, IOM warns parents of the dangers of sending their children north with smugglers.  IOM also works with migrant children and families in shelters in transit countries and when returning home.

“IOM’s support to child migrants, at-risk youth, and their families in Central America and Mexico has included providing scholarships and income-generation opportunities and working with governments to assist and protect returning migrant children,” explains Agueda Marin, the IOM Regional Specialist on Vulnerable Populations.

IOM closely coordinates these activities with governments, civil society and other partners throughout Central America and Mexico to promote children’s protection and their human rights.

But much more needs to be done.

“Many parents are unaware of the real risks of migrating irregularly, or are misinformed about what will happen once they arrive in the U.S.,” explains Robert Paiva, IOM Regional Director for Central and North America and the Caribbean,

“Information campaigns in their home communities and immediate assistance to help those children who return, including psychosocial counseling, food, transportation, and locating family members, are needed,” he notes.

Action is also needed to help returning children to better reintegrate into their home communities through scholarships, sports groups, arts activities, counselling, education, and even job training. This assistance should be complemented by governments’ increased focus on protecting children in the region.

“In the long term, the solution lies in addressing  the economic and security challenges in the region; however, even in this emergency phase, a holistic approach is needed if  the migrant children of Central America and Mexico are to be better protected ,” concludes Marin.

For more information, please contact

Agueda Marin
IOM’s Regional Office for Central and North America and the Caribbean
Email: amarin@iom.int
Tel: + 506 70 75 50 57