February 10, 2021
In recent years, administrative policies seeking to roll back protections for immigrant and refugee children and families have had devastating impacts and only highlighted the unique needs and vulnerabilities of children in U.S. immigration custody. Efforts to restore, expand, and reimagine processes that prioritize children’s rights and well-being have never been more critical. With the generous support of the Four Freedoms Fund, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) undertook a project to map the different types of facilities in which children are detained in the U.S. immigration system to inform efforts to create a system centered in children’s best interests, rights, and unique needs. This brief is excerpted from that project.