Most Undocumented Immigrant Children Temporarily Placed In a Handful of Counties

According to a recent Washington Post article, “[o]f the tens of thousands of undocumented immigrant children apprehended this year, nearly four in five of those temporarily released have been sent to a small share of counties…” The article notes that when children are captured at the border, the government initially cares for them and then releases them to  family members or other sponsors while awaiting  immigration proceedings.

Of the 126 counties nationwide in which more than 50 undocumented immigrant children were placed with sponsors from January through July 2014, three are located in Connecticut. Of these counties, Fairfield County received the most children  (253), followed by New Haven (66), and Hartford (53). Harris County, Texas received the most children overall (2,866.)

The map below from the Washington Post displays counties around the country with more than 50 undocumented children. The Post also created an interactive version of the map.

Source: Washington Post