Guatemala City, by Brenda Larios -AGN- The Government of Guatemala, through the Solicitor General’s Office-PGN-, has assisted over 23,000 unaccompanied underage migrants during the current administration.
The PGN’s Child and Adolescent Unit shared data that indicates that 23,713 unaccompanied migrant minors received assistance from 2020 to December 3, 2023. These minors were children and teenagers who returned to the country by air or land.
#AccionesPGN El personal de PGN Malacatán verificó una denuncia y determinó que tres niños estaban siendo vulnerados en su derecho a la salud, estabilidad familiar, integridad y educación, por lo que fueron llevados al Hospital Nacional de Malacatán para evaluación médica. pic.twitter.com/b03DxRCPtF
— PGN Guatemala (@PGNguatemala) December 14, 2023
The Records
The data provided by the PGN details the return of 4,547 minor migrants in 2020 and 7,722 in 2021. Another 7,657 unaccompanied migrant children or teenagers returned to Guatemala on 2,022. Finally, from January 1 to December 2023, 3,657 unaccompanied minors were returned to Guatemala and received assistance from PGN authorities.
Wuelmer Gómez, Solicitor General of the Nation, stated, “The aim and work of the PGN is to locate suitable family resources for the repatriated to reunify them.”
Of the total number of minors received in these four years, 10,147 received assistance in the reception area of the Guatemalan Air Force -FAG-, where two to three flights arrive weekly. Another 13,566 minors arrived at facilities located at various land borders of the Republic.
#AccionesPGN Por vulneración a los derechos de integridad y estabilidad familiar, un niño de 8 años fue llevado al Hospital Nacional de Malacatán por el personal de PGN. pic.twitter.com/8Q5K0Zuzrj
— PGN Guatemala (@PGNguatemala) December 13, 2023
The Assistance
Upon arrival, the minors receive aid from PGN multidisciplinary teams andpersonnel from other government agencies.
PGN authorities guarantee their integrity and human rights from the moment they are received.
The PGN coordinates with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance -MSPAS- to conduct the initial physical examinations. They are subsequently transferred to care centers while the authorities locate their families.
The Secretariat of Social Welfare of the Presidency also provides support by coordinating transportation in cases where their relatives cannot reach the capital.
