Fernández-Kelly, PatriciaLeahy, Chris2022-08-092026-09-302022-08-092026-09-302022-04-112022-08-09http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp019z9033069https://theses-dissertations.princeton.edu/handle/88435/dsp019z9033069This thesis seeks to clarify the situation of unaccompanied children (UC) in the United States. It begins this by exploring popular journalistic reporting, and tendencies to frame the narrative of poor conditions in migrant detention centers as the fault of individual administrations, then uses legal definitions and demographic information for the group to define their place. It then turns to examine the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) obligations to this group, and reintroduces their residential facilities as legally distinct from migrant detention, but with similar conditions. This thesis then discusses the history of influences on the UC facilities system, starting first with the migrant detention system. It finds that the earliest versions of this system were chartered on containment of a migrant problem, using methods of violence, neglect, and exploitation. In addition to these influences, it notes the role of for-profit contractors in solidifying sparse facilities, and the dehumanization associated with these methods. It then turns to children’s care centers, noting the shift over time from largely negligent, crowded facilities to programs emphasizing familial, trauma-centered approaches to care, while still having shortcomings in practice. It goes on to place UC facilities as falling somewhere between, with influx centers characterized as harmful like detention centers while valuing licensed shelters as providing a better environment for healing and development. This thesis then evaluates the practical state of UC facilities. It finds that the state regulatory environment is influential on how facilities programs based in those environments are shaped. States with weaker regulations, particularly on facility size, tend to see residential facilities with more issues in compliance. States with stronger regulations tend to see smaller facilities or foster-focused programs. It then discusses, however, that the programs’ national capacity limitations lead to ORR depending on harmful, weakly regulated influx facilities. This thesis makes policy recommendations centered on improving both the quality of UC facilities and the quantity of licensed facilities. It proposes 1) improving and codifying standards for all UC facilities and programs to ensure that UC experiences have nuanced needs more directly addressed, 2) increasing monitoring and transparency on operations and outcomes to ensure efficient correction of noncompliance, and 3) strengthening communication and coordination between ORR and state agencies to clarify and develop licensing standards, as well as expand network of licensed UC shelters. It concludes by considering the future of migration, and how the lessons of this thesis can be applied to migrant detention, and emphasizing the importance of committing to a path for the UC program to strive for care over containment.application/pdfenPrinceton University Senior Theses