Illegal Encounters: The Effect of Detention and Deportation on Young People

The impact of the U.S. immigration and legal systems on children and youth is a significant focus of the book Illegal Encounters. It highlights the challenges faced by undocumented migrants and their families, including illegality, deportability, and deportation. The volume combines perspectives from advocates, service providers, attorneys, researchers, and young immigrants to present rich accounts that can contribute to informed debates and policy reforms. It also sheds light on the burdens, hopes, and potential of a population of young people and their families who have been largely hidden from public view.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2019
Publisher: New York University Press

In the United States, a significant number of children are undocumented migrants or have family members who entered the country without proper authorization. These children and youth face unique challenges that require special attention. Illegal Encounters delves into the experiences of young people, both those who migrate and those impacted by the migration of others, regarding illegality, deportability, and deportation. The primary objective of the volume is to explore how children and youth navigate, encounter, or are excluded from various legal processes, such as border enforcement, immigration detention, federal custody, courts, and state categorization processes. It is important to note that even if young people do not directly interact with state immigration systems, they are still profoundly affected by the government's reach in various forms. Contributors prioritize the voices and everyday experiences of immigrant children and youth themselves. By bringing together perspectives from advocates, service providers, attorneys, researchers, and young immigrants, the volume offers rich accounts that can inform informed debates and policy reforms.

Illegal Encounters sheds light on the intricate ways in which policies, laws, and legal categories shape the daily lives of young immigrants. The book unveils the burdens, hopes, and potential of this population, which has been largely overlooked and is currently facing significant challenges due to their movement through complex immigration systems and institutions in the United States.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 161 x 237 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479887798