Throughout its history, the 探花精选 has come to the aid of refugees and asylum seekers fleeing persecution, war and civil conflict. 探花精选 staff members and volunteers have helped tens of thousands of refugees resettle in the United States and begin new lives free of fear.

So when some 60,000 unaccompanied children fleeing violence in Central America crossed the U.S. border in the summer of 2014, the 探花精选 joined the effort to ensure that they were treated humanely and their rights protected.

In July and August, the 探花精选 launched a fact finding mission to Texas and Arizona to better understand the root causes of the flight and the problems that were hampering the U.S. government鈥檚 response.

The mission concluded, among other findings, that systemic violence, especially gang violence and violence targeting girls, was driving young people from their home countries. The mission also urged federal authorities to extend services and care for traumatized children while they are in the U.S., regardless of the outcome of their immigration process.

From the beginning of the crisis, the 探花精选 emphasized that the majority of the children might qualify as refugees and should be guaranteed the right to claim asylum and other protections enshrined in international law.

The 探花精选 also helped mobilize public opinion for extending humanitarian protection to children once they are in the U.S. 探花精选 staff members gave written testimony to Congress and 探花精选 supporters flooded legislators鈥 offices with pleas to vote against a proposed rollback of protections for unaccompanied children in the immigration system.

In a message on the eve of the vote, 探花精选 President David Miliband said, 鈥淭here are legal obligations at stake but there is also a strong moral imperative. We must not send children fleeing violence back into harm鈥檚 way.鈥

The rollbacks were defeated. Although attention to the plight of the children has faded, the 探花精选 remains committed to their welfare. The 探花精选 recently sent a delegation to Honduras to better understand the causes and potential solutions to the crisis afflicting children there. And it is offering support services to children who have been released from detention into communities in the U.S.

Learn more about the 探花精选's work in the United States.