Michigan Immigrant Rights Center Supervising Attorney Susan Reed says faith-based groups have established a network which helps refugees resettle in the state.
Last summer one of those groups sought places to stay for unaccompanied children from Central America. Bridge recently took a look back at the controversy which erupted over efforts to house some of those children in the small town of Vassar near Flint. Bridge found that most of those children have been connected with family members or placed with foster families in the state.
"Every young woman I've ever represented has been sexually assaulted,"
Reed says Michigan has a relatively small number of immigrants who flee Central America. She says the stories from children who leave those countries may include fleeing organized criminal gangs or trying to reconnect with family members. Reed says young men may try to escape being recruited into a gang. She says young women may be fleeing human trafficking or sexual violence. Reed says "every young woman I've ever represented has been sexually assaulted," either at home or as part of the journey to the United States.
Bridge says after controversy died down Michigan resumed its role as "one of the most welcoming states in the nation...in accepting people, particularly children fleeing poverty or violence in their countries." Reed agrees that Michigan is welcoming to immigrants fleeing troubled parts of the World. But she says the state can do better. Reed would like Michigan to follow Maryland's lead, and allow state courts to take jurisdiction over young people between the ages of 18 to 21. in Michigan courts can retain jurisdiction into early adulthood, but can't initiate proceedings after someone reaches 18 years old.
Reed says that can help with some legal proceedings, and also keep sibling groups together once the oldest child turns 18.
