Children Crossing the Border

In San Antonio, Texas, there is a place of refuge for children called St. PJ’s Children’s Home. The Director of Development, Beth Green, agreed to answer some questions from me about children crossing the border illegally. Currently St. PJ’s cares for some of these young refugees.

Background News

A huge increase in unaccompanied minors from Central America into Texas has overwhelmed the Border Patrol. More than 750 children (just this week) have been moved to Border Patrol facilities in Arizona. Authorities are working to create temporary housing for 3,000 more children in three other states. The large numbers of children coming into the United States  is attributed to drugs and increasing violence in the countries these children are fleeing from.

Questions for Beth Green

Me: How many of the children you work with now are locals and how many are those who have crossed the border?

Beth: We currently have 140 beds on our campus. Due to the Foster-Care Redesign in Texas, our residential program has shrunk. In Texas, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services try to place children directly into foster care homes rather than residential homes. So as our residential program shrank, our foster care/adoption program grew. We currently are working with 31 families in San Antonio to provide foster care to approximately 50 children. As our mission is to serve children, we realized the immediate need for children who are coming across our borders unaccompanied. Our international emergency shelter program houses 82 children ranging in age from 5-17.

Me: What, if any, are the differences in the local children and those who are coming in?

Beth: The only difference is the language barrier. Domestic children who are placed in our programs have experienced abuse, neglect, extreme poverty or abandonment. International children have experienced violence and abuse, avoiding cartel persecution and recruitment, or escaping political and religious persecution. Some may be trying to reunite with their families.

Me: What’s the youngest child you have had to cross the border?

Beth: We have seen children as young as 6 in our shelter.

Me: How do they manage to survive?

Beth: Watch the movie, La Bestia (The Beast). It is a very chilling and exact account of how these children come across.

Me: Do you have more boys than girls?

Beth: We have about 50/50 of each.

Me: How many have family they are trying to find?

Beth: All of them.

Me: Are there any programs available to help them?

Beth: There are a variety of programs that can help immigrant families depending on the area they live in.

Me: Will any of them be sent back? If so, how many?

Beth: I really don’t know. I’m not sure of the policies of the Office of Refugee and Resettlement. I will say… I hope not. Children crossing the border alone is a humanitarian crisis.

Me: How do you sleep at night? I know that’s a strange question but I once worked with At-Risk students from a high school program and their problems kept me up at night. I still pray for each of them and it’s been years since I had any contact with them.

Beth: I’ve worked in this area for almost 8 years. These kids are amazing and resilient. I have found…that if they take the help that is given…they thrive. Many of the children I have worked with have gone onto college or have held down good paying jobs. They take care of their families and are not abusers themselves.

About Beth Green….

Beth Green serves as the Director of Development for St. PJ’s Children’s Home. An advocate of abused and neglected children, Beth has spent 10 years working to bring awareness to these children’s struggles without comprising the confidentially of their situation.

 St. PJ’s Children’s Home

The following drawings were done by children at St. PJ’s