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Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
In 2016, researchers Zoe Given-Wilson and Jane Herlihy reviewed the psychological traumas and outcomes that asylum seekers, particularly children who are unaccompanied, face while achieving legal rights. Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) are kids who leave their native country to seek shelter in a new country without a parent or guardian. As mentioned in the study, common reasons for leaving their county include: “war, violence, sexual assault, or high levels of persecution”. The traumatic experiences faced by these adolescents along with brain development will influence the interview process for a child trying to migrate.

For adolescents that are unaccompanied and seeking asylum, uncertainty regarding safety and stability affects mental, developmental, and physical conditions. Unaccompanied asylum seeking children must go alone through a subjective process of being asked questions by an interviewer regarding why they are seeking refuge. The way unaccompanied asylum seeking children think will influence their responses while in an interview. For example, prior to mid-adolescence, it may be hard for an UASC to regulate emotions. In addition, lack of a parent/guardian will increase vulnerabilities to PTSD, depression, anxiety, psychosis, delinquency, and aggression. Mental health illness should be considered by the interviewer as they play a big role in how a child is viewed by the decision-maker.

The assessment of a child’s story is very important, however many times the decision-making process is subjective due to the emotional content of adolescents’ asylum claims. A decision-makers’ views will influence whether they believe the person. In addition, full brain maturation is not achieved until mid-20’s influencing the interview process. Depending on the culture, young people are faced with the difficult task of proving that their story is credible. Many children are not able to make decisions based on their own, instead they would rather please an interviewer. Therefore, all aspects of a child's story and their lived experience may need to be taken into account by the interviewer.

“UASC are an especially vulnerable group to ongoing abuse and neglect”. When adolescents file an asylum claim, they are trying to prove their story is credible. Several factors including: age, psychological development, memory, trust, attachment, and mental health will influence whether an interviewer deems someone's story as credible. Overall, a decision regarding an adolescents' claim is subjective to the decision maker and it is imperative that decision-makers reflect on their views while speaking with unaccompanied asylum seeking children. This will reduce any biases from projecting out during the interview as these decisions will have long-lasting impacts.