Unlawful Removals of Unaccompanied Children

This timeline documents a series of U.S. government actions that unlawfully remove unaccompanied children from the United States, often without due process and in direct violation of longstanding child protection laws. It highlights how recent policies and programs have enabled rushed returns, coercive “voluntary” departures, and forced removals that bypass required trafficking screenings and immigration court proceedings. These practices place children at heightened risk of trafficking, violence, and exploitation by returning them to the very dangers they fled. Together, the events outlined reveal a broader pattern of eroding safeguards that prioritize rapid enforcement over children’s safety, well-being, and legal rights.

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