U.S. Border Crisis Children's Relief Fund

Save the Children has provided humanitarian assistance to children and families seeking asylum at the U.S. southern border since 2014. We’ve prioritized programming for families traveling with children, with a special focus on the youngest children, pregnant women, new mothers, and children with disabilities.

Our work at the border centers on strengthening the capacity of shelters and communities to protect children and families, addressing their immediate physical and emotional needs, offering resource support, technical guidance, and children’s programming and advocacy. Since the start of our response, we have set up child-friendly spaces for children in shelters run by non-profit agencies; distributed large quantities of care supplies to children and mothers on the move; and supported medical services.

Additionally, we’ve supported free legal aid for unaccompanied children, minors and families in U.S. detention and collaborated with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to help ensure that children separated from their families at the U.S. border were reunited as quickly as possible.

Here are some updates on our work – made possible because of generous donors like you!

In 2022, we addressed the immediate humanitarian needs – such as food, water, and shelter – of more than 1,000,000 people including more than 500,000 children.

Over the past year, Save the Children supported 36 partners and social service agencies across four states and reached:

· 172,000 people (including 62,000 children) in Arizona

· 229,000 people (including over 71,000 children) in California

· 59,000 people (including over 23,000 children) in New Mexico

· 1,017,000 people (including over 361,000 children) in Texas

Save the Children is the only organization responding to the U.S.-Mexico border crisis with a cash assistance program that gives families with children prepaid cards to purchase essential items for their onward travel. In 2022, more than 3,748 children and 4,350 adults benefited from the program.

We could not do any of this important work without the help of our supporters and donors. Thank you for all you do for children and families seeking safety and asylum.

Links:

• Save the Children - U.S. Border Crisis

Thank you for your support of Save the Children's U.S. Border Crisis Children's Relief Fund.

Save the Children has been on the ground at the U.S. southern border since 2013. We are continuing to address the root causes of migration through our work in Central America with longstanding programs primarily focused on children and adolescents in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. Our work at the border is focused on delivering immediate humanitarian aid to newly arrived children and families. 

2023 has brought two new challenges: the expiration of Title 42 and the subsequent asylum ban. Save the Children strongly opposes this ban, and has long urged the Biden administration not to enact such devastating restrictions.

"In barring asylum, the United States government is subjecting asylum-seeking families and children to more—and unnecessary—danger and violence," said Janti Soeripto, President and CEO of Save the Children.

"The asylum ban will cause family separations and force children and families to seek refuge in countries in which asylum protections are lacking or non-existent. The United States must be committed to protecting human rights and providing a safe haven for those in need. As we’ve said time and time again, while we understand the complexities of rebuilding a broken immigration system, policies that put children and families in danger are not the solution—they’re unacceptable, morally and legally."

In Latin America and the Caribbean, Save the Children is assessing the situation in the countries that will be the most impacted by the changes that these measures could cause. Guatemala and Colombia are a particular focus, as they will host regional centers announced by the U.S. administration. One of our concerns is the lack of information about how children and families on the move to the U.S. should proceed when the new policy goes into effect.

In the United States, Save the Children—together with our U.S. political advocacy arm, Save the Children Action Network—will continue to advocate on behalf of children and families to ensure their rights are upheld, and that they are treated legally and humanely, with dignity and respect.And, in partnership with a network of shelters and social service agencies across the length of the U.S. southern border, Save the Children stands ready to welcome migrants and support any increased humanitarian needs that may arise.

See the links below to find out how you can support and advocate for migrant children.

Links:

• TAKE ACTION NOW: Migrant Children Need Change
• Our Border Crisis Response