LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS OF SEEKING ASYLUM AND WHY WE EXIST
What happens to children when they enter the United States seeking refuge?
Each year children without parents or adult guardians enter the United States, sometimes thousands of them in a year. They come from all over the world after fleeing for their lives from violence in their homelands. Most travel thousands of miles on foot, in make-shift boats or by any means possible to make their way to our country. Click here for more statistics about the children fleeing to our nation.
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When these “unaccompanied children” enter the country, they are detained and placed in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. Through the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement, the children are housed in juvenile detention facilities operated by licensed child-care agencies.
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In these facilities, the children are housed, cared for and given opportunities for education while they await legal proceedings that determine whether they can remain in the U.S. Most children seek “asylum,” which means they must prove they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their homeland. The asylum legal process can take more than four years. Unfortunately, the majority of these children do not have attorneys to represent them at their hearings.
What happens when these children turn 18 years old?
When these children turn 18 years old, they are no longer able to remain in juvenile detention facilities. Viator House provides a home for young men so that they don’t end up in temporary shelters or programs, detention centers or unsafe situations.
At Viator House, young men learn English, attend school, find jobs and adapt to life in the U.S. while they await their immigration proceedings. After a period of time, Viator House helps young men move into local apartments.
How we Keep Young Men Seeking Asylum Out of Immigrant Detention
Br. Michael Gosch, C.S.V., Director of Programs and Housing, receives notice from a juvenile detention facility or a child’s attorney when a young man approaches his 18th birthday in juvenile detention. He and a Viator House case manager interview the young man to see if Viator House can meet his needs. Unfortunately, a recent study shows that 75-90% of these children do not have attorneys, which are not guaranteed under U.S. law to immigrants facing deportation.
What does Viator House of Hospitality offer?
VHH offers housing, food, clothing, education, case management, spiritual support, advocacy, referrals and volunteer experiences in a safe interfaith environment. We help young men seeking asylum go to school, learn English, find jobs, adapt to American culture, and develop their gifts and skills so they can contribute to our nation. At VHH they live together, share chores, build friendships, support one another while attending school and/or working. VHH can welcome 25 young men.
How long will a typical stay at Viator House of Hospitality be?
A young man can live at VHH until he can thrive on his own or finds members of his family to live with. Due to lengthy delays in our asylum system, a young man may wait 5 years for his proceedings.