Based on a revised count of unaccompanied minors that have come to Maryland from Central American countries this year, all but a handful have been placed with family members, the Baltimore Sun reports.
In addition, the state has established a website, BuscandoMaryland.com to assist the children with their present needs, according to a report in the Daily Record. The goal for Buscando is to get information and resources to the people who need them.
“We’re a welcoming place, and we want them to know that help is available,” the Daily Record quoted Anne Sheridan, executive director of the Governor’s Office for Children, as saying.
According to Maryland’s human resources secretary, Ted Dallas, the children have suffered many problems from their homelands and arduous journeys. Many have fled gang violence and drug activity in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, but in most cases, they entered the US illegally from Mexico.
“They have suffered some trauma and they need some help, but they do have smiles on their faces,” the Sun quoted him as saying.
The main problem in the US has been the clogged-up immigration courts. There simply aren’t enough lawyers and judges to provide due process for the immigration or refugee status claims certain to stick with many of the children.
Immigrant children placed with sponsors by state
Maryland has a high ranking when it comes to the number of unaccompanied children (UACs) who have been resettled here. The US Department of Health and Human Services reported, as of July 31, 2,804 children have been resettled in Maryland and placed with sponsors, the sixth highest total among states.
| State | # of UACs | Population |
| Texas | 5,280 | 26,448,193 |
| New York | 4,244 | 19,651,127 |
| California | 3,909 | 38,332,521 |
| Florida | 3,809 | 19,552,860 |
| Virginia | 2,856 | 8,260,405 |
| Maryland | 2,804 | 5,928,814 |
State populations are provided by the US Census Bureau and reflect the 2013 population estimates for the state, based on the 2010 official census counts.
Using data from sources cited in this article, explain why certain states might have placed a higher number of UACs with sponsors per capita than other states? See Common Core English language arts literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects, Appendix C: Samples of Student Writing, for more information.
