Unaccompanied refugee children: the tension between immigration law and SGB VIII challenges for social work

In 2015, an estimated one million refugees arrived in Germany, of whom over 300,000 were children and young people. A significant proportion of the children and young people seeking protection in Germany were unaccompanied by their parents. These so-called unaccompanied minor refugees were separated from their parents whilst fleeing. They are regarded as particularly vulnerable, as they suffer from the loss of family ties and are at particular risk of becoming victims of violence, exploitation and conflict. In Germany, two legal frameworks now apply to these children: on the one hand, migration law governing asylum and residence regulations, and on the other, youth welfare under the Child and Youth Welfare Act. From now on, the lives of unaccompanied minor refugees in Germany are shaped by the practical application of these two legal frameworks. This book examines the tensions that may arise from these two areas of law, as well as the challenges for social work.