Profiles young refugees arriving in Canada without a legal guardian. These unaccompanied minors emigrate because they are escaping violence, persecution, or family or economic constraints; others are involved in black market or criminal activity. The study is based on interviews with 18 social practitioners in Montreal and points to ways in which the needs of unaccompanied minors go beyond those of other young immigrants. Coping with loss, shock, or trauma is particularly challenging for unaccompanied minors who may have experienced abrupt or brutal separation from their families and may have developed ineffective survival strategies. Placing these immigrants in the same community of origin, while protective, has its risks, especially if the new families have limited resources, share different values, or feel isolated. Interrupted education and lack of language skills mean that unaccompanied minors may be refused schooling and denied this avenue of integration. Moreover, deportation may still be a real possibility for some of these refugees, and their status as minors poses risks and barriers. Budget cutbacks could lead to a lower standard of social services that does not address the special needs of unaccompanied minors.
