KIND México

Assisting Unaccompanied Children on Both Sides of the U.S.-Mexico Border

In recognition that migrant children need protection from the moment they leave their homes, throughout their migration journey and after they reach their destination, KIND México collaborates with civil society and government stakeholders to promote the rights of unaccompanied migrant children in Mexico and at the U.S. – Mexico border. Learn more about how we promote the rights of children on the move in the KIND México Fact Sheet.

KIND México Fact Sheet

What We Do

Legal Programs Border Team

KIND México’s legal programs team serves children migrating alone in search of safety along the U.S.-Mexico border by providing legal orientation, case screenings, and assistance to vulnerable, unaccompanied children on the move.

Documenting Conditions

KIND México partners with civil society organizations along Mexico’s northern and southern borders to observe and document the conditions that unaccompanied children face in Mexico.

Capacity Building

KIND México provides training to civil society and Mexican government actors on the U.S. immigration system, changes to U.S. immigration policy impacting children, and best practices for working with migrant children.

Advocacy in Mexico

KIND México’s advocacy team works with civil society and government actors to improve access to protection and rights for migrant children in Mexico, including the rights to a comprehensive best interests determination and legal representation.

U.S. Advocacy

KIND México works with the policy team to educate U.S. lawmakers on issues at the border, advocate for policies and resources that protect migrant children at the border, and ensure that U.S. foreign assistance to the region is invested in programs that promote and protect the rights of migrant children in transit.

Feature Resource

KIND México Principles for Migrant Children

Read and download KIND México’s principles for the protection of migrant children:

Feature Resource

KIND México: Principios para proteger los derechos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes migrantes

Lea y descargue KIND México: Principios para proteger los derechos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes migrantes

Children's Stories

"In 2019, KIND helped a 4-year-old child in critical medical condition reunite with her mother in the United States, where she received life-saving medical care. Our Houston staff continues to work with the child and her mother to ensure that they receive the legal assistance and social services they need. "

"Alejandro* fled gang violence in El Salvador and came to the United States seeking protection but when he reached the U.S.-Mexico border he was turned back by U.S. officials and expelled into Mexico under the CDC order. Alone and without access to assistance in Mexico, KIND helped ensure that he was not expelled again when he returned to the U.S border to seek safety and was instead processed according to the standard procedures afforded to unaccompanied minors. KIND is continuing to help Alejandro by ensuring he has legal representation for his immigration proceedings."

"Juan* and Roberto* are teenage brothers who fled Honduras on their own, seeking safety and hoping to reunite with their father in Texas. At the border, instead of being given access to the process and procedures required for unaccompanied children by law, Juan and Roberto were held in a hotel in an unknown location for several days with no access to medical care or an attorney. Finally, a KIND attorney was able to intervene and halt their expulsion to Honduras. The two brothers were moved from the hotel to a licensed shelter for children and soon after released to their father. They are now seeking asylum in the United States. "

Resources

March 26, 2021

KIND Mexico: One Year of Helping Children in Need at the U.S.-Mexico Border

It has been one year since the Trump Administration closed the border to asylum seekers and unaccompanied children. While the Biden Administration has announced that they will not expel children who r...

March 22, 2021

Implementation of the Mexican Legal Reforms that Prohibit Detention of Accompanied and Unaccompanied Migrant Children

Human rights organizations in Mexico have been advocating for alternatives to detention for migrant children for over 10 years. The impact of immigration detention on children and families has been do...

October 26, 2020

KIND México Fact Sheet

In recognition that migrant children need protection from the moment they leave their homes, throughout their migration journey and after they reach their destination, KIND México collaborates with c...

October 26, 2020

KIND México Hoja de Datos

En conocimiento de que NNA migrantes no acompañados/as necesitan protección desde el momento en que salen de sus hogares, durante su viaje migratorio y después de llegar a su destino, KIND México ...

December 10, 2020

KIND México Helps Children Alone South of the U.S. Border

Today as we celebrate International Human Rights Day, we think about our work protecting children on the move around the world. Earlier this year, KIND launched KIND Mexico to ensure the safety of chi...

July 1, 2020

What is Happening to Children from Mexico & Central America

U.S. law has special protections to keep children traveling alone safe, and to protect them from human trafficking and return to danger. Since March 20th, the U.S. has been using COVID-19 as a pretext...

April 29, 2020

Border Closure Exposing Children to Heightened Risk of Trafficking and Exploitation

In the midst of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is turning away unaccompanied children and asylum seekers at its borders, without first conducting ...

August 2, 2019

Families and children face harsh and dangerous conditions at U.S.-Mexico border

Below, a KIND staff member reflects on a recent trip to the US-Mexico border at Juarez to observe conditions of migrant families seeking asylum in the U.S.

June 3, 2019

Blocked from Safety: Unaccompanied Children along the U.S.-Mexico Border

An update to The Protection Gauntlet, this KIND report explains the danger and challenges unaccompanied children currently face in Tijuana and other parts of the U.S.-Mexico border.

January 29, 2020

Remain in Mexico: Unlawful and Unsafe for Children

In January 2019, the Trump Administration began implementing a new policy that requires certain asylum seekers to wait in Mexico—rather than the U.S.—for the duration of the immigration proceeding...

Referrals for KIND Border Work Assistance

How do I make a referral?

Send an email to: kindmex@supportkind.org

Phone call:

From Mexico 55 71001542
WhatsApp – 202.918.9431

What information do you need?

Referring Organization and Contact Information
Last name, First name of the child
Last name, First name of the accompanying adult (if applicable)
How may we contact the child or responsible adult?
Where the child is located
- Shelter name:
- City, State

Is there an available sponsor in the US? If yes, provide:
- Last Name, First Name
- Contact phone number
- City, State where they reside
Please note any urgent concerns if applicable:
Any urgent medical needs/issues:
Provide brief case summary and request:

Who can refer a case?

We consider all referrals, including referrals from individuals and families.

Types of Cases We Can Consider

Unaccompanied or separated child (UAC) seeking protection in the US or Mexico.
UAC child seeking reunification in the US or Mexico.
Persons < 18.
Families at the border- Our goal generally is not to counsel family units – We can offer consultations that help families and children make informed decisions.
UAC who may be facing expulsion to Mexico or country of origin under Title 42 / ‘Covid policy’.
Migrant children with serious medical issues or disabilities.
KIND would also consult with parents who have been separated from their children and are seeking information or services.
KIND can offer guidance and orientation to sponsors when a child is in ORR custody.

Learn More About Our International Work

Central America

KIND works throughout Central America on a variety of protection issues, including gender-based violence prevention, our Central American Return and Reintegration Program, and working with separated families.

Europe & the UK

KIND is adapting its pro bono model to expand legal assistance to children alone and on the move in Europe and the UK.

International Resources

KIND has a collection of resources from all our international work in our resource library. Learn more here!