Unaccompanied Alien Children - Legal Issues: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

"Recent reports about the increasing number of alien minors apprehended at the U.S. border without a parent or legal guardian have prompted numerous questions about so-called unaccompanied alien children (UACs).  Some of these questions pertain to the numbers of children involved, their reasons for coming to the United States, and current and potential responses of the federal government and other entities to their arrival.  Other questions concern the interpretation and interplay of various federal statutes and regulations, administrative and judicial decisions, and settlement agreements pertaining to alien minors.  This report addresses the latter questions, providing general and relatively brief answers to 14 frequently asked questions regarding UACs." - Congressional Research Service, July 18, 2014.