The Migratory Journey of Unaccompanied Children

This article provides a brief discussion on the psychosocial needs of unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border of the United States. It highlights various aspects of migration, and the resulting emotional and psychological impact on unaccompanied minors; it subsequently proposes a resilience approach, in terms of protective behaviors towards increased adjustment and success in a new environment.


Introduction
Recently, through both radio and television, we have come to better understand how a great many children and adolescents are attempting to cross the border. As expected, there was immediate outrage from the pundits about their inhumane treatment in detainment holding areas. The vacuum in its wake left many unanswered questions about this population shift, especially for the psychological well-being of the affected minors, and how we might enhance their protective factors-so they have a viable chance to become more resilient in this country.
The migration stage from one's home country to the border has at least four stages: (1) premigration trauma, characterized by events prior to the migration, serving as the main determinant for relocation; (2) traumatic events during transit; (3) traumatic events while crossing the border and being transferred to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facility; and (4) substandard living conditions due to language and cultural diversity, inadequate support, and minority persecution (Perez, 2001). During the migratory process, minors are at risk of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress (NeMoyer, Rodrigues, & Alvarez, 2019a).
This article highlights various aspects of migration, and the resulting emotional and psychological impact on unaccompanied minors; it subsequently proposes a resilience approach, in terms of protective behaviors towards increased adjustment and success in a new environment.

Loss as a Consequence of Movement
These times are replete with turmoil: political, economic, cultural, and environmental chaos, as well as the impact of external events, such as climatic events and the COVID-19 pandemic. A move from one location to another sabotages their mental map, based on their history and environment, forcing migrants to change the old map and reconstruct a new one-based on some new opportunities, along with rigid reprogramming. As they continue to be dislocated and relocated, they will mount an ongoing search for more happiness and an attempt to "fit in". This may be defined as "a byproduct of being in the right relationship with our souls at any given time" (Hollis, 2020a something is lost and irretrievable, but something to replace it is not yet apparent" (Hollis, 2020b).
This passage for unaccompanied children implies that something will be lost cognitively, psychologically, and spiritually. Their daily geography, their language, their past plans to grow up in a special neighborhood, with the wisdom of their elders and their belief systems. This will always tend to erode their well-known protective factors. It will take years to recreate a new world, facilitative tools for everyday living, and protective factors to manage their new existence.
These children have experienced physical and emotional abuse, poverty, as well as exposure to extreme violence. In particular, there were increased rates of violence and homicide in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador (American Immigration Council, 2015). Children would rather flee to avoid recruitment into gangs, or exploitation by human smugglers (UNHCR, 2014). Separation from their parents will likely result in significant distress, manifesting as depressive symptoms and other emotional and behavioral problems (NeMoyer, Rodriquez, & Alvarez, 2019b).

The Cost of Replacing What Was Left behind
This migratory move comes at a great cost. With every step, replacement of family, community, customs, and culture loom large. These losses are replaced by a mechanistic and politicized world, in which they are all alone. The protective factors "from back there are lost", now that they are here. As children move to a new environments in the United States, they encounter additional risks and negative