RI Schools Take in Central American Migrants

Federal figures show the U.S. government has placed 503 Central American migrant children in Rhode Island since 2013 after they entered the country without a parent.

Providence school administrators say they've enrolled about 225 unaccompanied minors, mostly Guatemalans, who joined relatives already living in the city.

Teachers say they have high attendance rates despite also holding evening jobs.

The government has placed more than 100,000 unaccompanied minors from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador with adult sponsors in communities nationwide. They're expected to attend school while they seek legal status in immigration court.

Deborah Gonzalez, director of an immigration law clinic at Roger Williams University, says the Providence, Central Falls and Pawtucket school districts have done a good job registering and accommodating the students but some others have dragged their feet.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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