Children in San Jose Calderas, Guatemala.

Violence, Poverty Pushing Guatemalan Children To US

A recent influx of Central American children migrating to the United States is causing a border crisis.

The children are fleeing the violent life in Guatemala, either alone or sometimes with child smugglers who promise assistance only to abandon them. As many as 90,000 children came this year alone.

Guatemala, one of the poorest countries in Central America, is trying to get back on its feet after a 36-year “civil war” where 200,000 people were killed, mostly unarmed, indigenous people.