America's Shame: Imprisoned Immigrant Children

Each year, nearly 8,000 children are swept into the U.S. immigration system. These “unaccompanied minors” are supposed to be handed over to the Department of Health and Human Services, where they can be cared for with counseling, food and English lessons while they are “processed” in the U.S.’ massive immigration system.

But many children never make it that far. Instead, they wind up in jails, surrounded by hardened criminals. The lockup is a nightmarish twist to what was already a hellish narrative.

U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren,(D-CA)., agrees. The chair of the House Judiciary Committee’s immigration subcommittee, Lofgren said she will introduce legislation next month that will require immigration officials to hand children over to Health and Human Services within 72 hours.

“When you think about young children being locked up in jail, it really is antithetical to American values,” said Lofgren.

Click here for the Examiner.com's 2/1/07 article, Missing in America: 8,000 Immigrant Children.