Immigration Agents Misstreating Undocumented Children

Believe it or not, a new study by the Austin-based Center For Public Policy Priorities says that undocumented children as young as 7 were being mistreated by U.S. immigration authorities while in custody. The think-tank, which for more than 20 years has been looking out for low and moderate-income Texans by improving public policies and private practices by doing a bunch of studies, found out that these children were not given the fair treatment that is stipulated by law.

According to the properly titled report A Child Alone and Without Papers, the CFPP found out that some of the interviewed children were not given proper medical attention when requested and some were "not being given any or enough food."

There were instances where some children reported being "struck and knocked down by agents."

The Vienna Convention clearly states that all countries that detain unaccompanied minors in a country that is not their own, should immediately notify their consulate. But in report interviews, the CFPP found out that these laws were not applied to all the kids during the removal procedures.

The report also showed that "50 to 70 percent of detained unaccompanied children who face an immigration judge, lack legal representation."

The report also mentioned that these children were being repatriated back to their country in kennel-like compartments like little dogs. It's extremely sad that a country that labels itself as the country of the free, children are being treated like animals. Dogs shouldn't even be treated like that, much less children who find themselves in such a vulnerable position in a strange culture with a strange language they are not familiar with.

Let's hope that when President-elect Barack Obama takes charge of this country, he makes sure that inhumane treatment of undocumented immigrants come to an end.