When we think of displacement, we often focus on the destination — the border crossed, the asylum granted. But what about the children who never make it across — or those left waiting indefinitely in unfamiliar cities, without protection or support?

This World Refugee Day, Plan International is spotlighting the children left in limbo at Mexico’s northern border. A new report by Plan and Save the Children — Unaccompanied Children: Risks and Violence Along the Migration Route Through Mexico — shares the stories of 155 children and caregivers navigating three of the country’s most high-risk border cities: Ciudad Juárez, Reynosa and Tijuana.

The data highlight significant gaps in the protection and support available to migrant children. These children are exposed to multiple forms of violence and often lack access to the assistance they need. Mental health services and education systems are struggling to meet their needs, leaving many without critical support. This report underscores the need to strengthen care for migrant children — not only at border crossings, but also within the systems intended to ensure their well-being.

A journey defined by risk

For most children, migrating through Mexico isn’t something they choose — it’s something they’re forced into. Forced internal displacement and the transit of foreign populations through high-risk zones have become defining features of this corridor. The majority of children interviewed — ages 7 to 16 — came from Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela and even Afghanistan.

In Ciudad Juárez, nearly two-thirds of children began their journey accompanied by a parent or guardian. But by the time they reached Mexico’s northern border, only one-third remained with them. This separation significantly increases children’s risk of gender-based violence, trafficking and recruitment by organized groups — a pattern echoed across multiple case narratives in the report.

“The testimonials from our research reveal a heartbreaking reality: children are being separated from their families during their journey through Mexico, leaving them vulnerable to trafficking, violence and recruitment by organized crime groups. These children endure months of delays that keep them apart from their families, face discrimination in education and experience isolation within a system that fails to uphold their fundamental rights. This protection crisis demands immediate and coordinated action from all parties involved.”

— Carmen Elena Alemán, Plan International Americas Regional Director

When protection systems fail

The threats don’t end at the border. In Reynosa, one in three interviewed girls had lived in displacement shelters for over six months — often in overcrowded, high-risk areas where going outside means risking kidnapping or extortion.

Education, a critical anchor in children’s lives, is often one of the first things to be lost. In the three cities analyzed, while more than 70% of children surveyed had been enrolled in school before migrating, 58% were no longer attending classes at the time of the interview. Children are often kept out of school by a mix of bureaucracy, missing documents, overcrowded classrooms and xenophobia from host communities. Inconsistent shelter policies and social discrimination only deepen the barriers to learning.

“The mothers, fathers and caregivers of the Mexican population do not want their children to live with children on the move,” one interviewee said, reflecting widespread social discrimination.

The silent burden: mental health

The emotional weight of displacement is often the hardest to see — and the easiest to overlook. Many children struggle to understand why they were separated from caregivers or why they remain in prolonged uncertainty. Some describe learning how to spot predators or protect younger siblings in situations no child should face alone.

Despite the evident trauma, access to formal mental health support is nearly nonexistent. Cuts to international funding have forced the withdrawal of psychosocial programs, leaving children without even a basic outlet for care.

“What we’re witnessing is a mental health crisis that requires urgent attention. Children in our programs describe living with constant fear and uncertainty — some tell our staff to ‘be careful who you talk to’ even in safe spaces. We’re seeing parents focused on immediate survival needs, often saying ‘when we reach our destination, then I’ll focus on my child’s emotional needs,’ but these children need support now. We’re working with our partners to address these gaps, but the need far exceeds current capacity.”

— Arturo Estrada, Interim Country Director of Plan International Mexico

What the research is calling for

The findings from this report reinforce a critical truth: migrant children are not being adequately seen, heard or protected. The evidence points to an urgent need for coordinated, multi-sectoral action that responds to the rights, needs and lived realities of children on the move.

Based on the research, the report calls for:

— Immediate, trauma-informed mental health support — services must be accessible, culturally sensitive and designed specifically for children and adolescents, especially those who are unaccompanied.

— Protection systems that respond to the gendered risks girls and young women face — including the prevention of gender-based violence, trafficking and exploitation in shelters and transit zones.

— Uninterrupted access to education — flexible enrollment policies, language support and safer school pathways are urgently needed, even within temporary displacement.

— Safe, dignified shelter options — facilities must prioritize children’s well-being, offer safe recreational and learning spaces, and include family tracing and reunification services.

— Institutional strengthening and interagency coordination — especially at the municipal level, where high staff turnover and fragmented systems continue to impede continuity and accountability.

At Plan, we implement humanitarian emergency response actions in Mexico along both the southern and northern borders, where we support shelters by providing care services, mental health support and school reintegration programs.

In 2024, the organization served more than 54,000 people, including 21,000 girls and young women who received humanitarian assistance through the creation of safe spaces, access to education, emotional wellbeing support and other services. We have also worked hand-in-hand with various state institutions and local organizations to prioritize differentiated care for children.

Toward a more protective future

Children on the move are not just crossing borders. They are navigating broken systems that often render them invisible. But their vulnerability is not inevitable. With the right investments, policies and political will, migration can be met with protection — not peril.

As we mark World Refugee Day, this report stands as a timely reminder: The right to protection goes beyond survival. It means acknowledging children as rights-holders, as participants and as leaders in shaping their futures.

The report offers timely insights for programming, particularly in light of ongoing displacement trends. These findings call for action that child protection actors, governments and donors can adapt across borders.

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