The center houses around 35 kids. Some have families in adult detention centers, separated from their children. In all, INS detains more than 4,500 children in limbo status at 95 facilities. Only 25 of those are licensed non-profit shelter care facilities. The remaining 70 are juvenile correction facilities where immigrant children commingle with juvenile offe nders who have committed murder and other serious crimes.
Children spend months and even years in detention.
Less than half have legal advocates, even though INS holds kids to the same standards as adults in immigration hearings. A bill introduced by Sen ator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif, would establish a separate office within the Department of Justice to ensure that children receive access to lawyers and guardians. Hearings on are being considered this summer in the Sena te and House. The number of unaccompanied minors grows each year on the border. Children from Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador make their way to Guatemala City and Tec n Um n to cross into Mexico.