Provides a basic explanation of the United States’ immigration system for unaccompanied children who are being detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Easy-to-comprehend answers are offered to the following questions about: (1) why a child is not allowed to enter the U.S. without permission; (2) the role of the immigration judge; (3) the process whereby a child may live with a family member or friend of the family living legally in the U.S.; (4) the importance of keeping court appointments, telling the truth, and reading all documents; (5) what to expect from a lawyer; (6) how to stay legally in the U.S., including the necessity of returning temporarily to one’s home country in order to get permission to emigrate to the U.S.; the special status of asylum seekers; and special visas for children who have been harmed, abandoned, or neglected by their parents; (7) what happens when a judge orders a child to be sent back to his or her home country; and (8) a child’s rights when detained by the INS, including communication with an attorney and access to health care. Includes simple drawings, a glossary of terms, and a listing of inexpensive, free immigration service providers.
