How many Central American children and families are being deported?

Bob Ortega, The Republic | azcentral.com 4:57 p.m. MST November 12, 2014

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has not released data for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. From July 18 through the end of September, immigration judges ordered the removal (that is, the deportation) of at least 1,035 unaccompanied minors, with most of those children coming from Honduras, Guatemala or El Salvador. Immigration judges also ordered the removal of at least 2,435 "family units," or parents with children, during that same time period.

Border Crisis

Over the past month, Arizona Republicreporters and photographers walked the graffiti-strewn streets of El Salvador. They traveled on rafts across the Guatemalan-Mexican border and sat with children in shelters in Reynosa, Mexico, the last stop before the Rio Grande.They talked to those offering food and water to migrants at a bus station in Phoenix and stood between groups of protesters in Southern California who wanted new migrants kept out — or let in.

Hear from the children. Get the facts. Discuss solutions. Read more here.

Very few of those children and families were represented by attorneys. Children as young as three years old have appeared in immigration court without an attorney, in effect representing themselves.

Statistically, nine out of ten children without an attorney are ordered removed. About half of children with representation are granted asylum.

After ICE opened an immigration-detention center in Artesia, N.M., in June, 135 family members held at the center were deported in the first two weeks, versus 12 who were released pending hearings.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/...rted/18940641/