This article addresses the failures of the United States immigration system to protect Central American minors who were trafficked for exploitation in criminal activities by gangs. In particular, it focuses on the ways in which the US immigration system denies humanitarian protection to Central American minors who were forced to participate in criminal activity by the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street gangs, and instead detains them. The article will examine this trend in the context of a larger proclivity to criminalise immigration in the US, particularly minors fleeing violence in Central America. We draw upon our experience representing Central American minors in their applications for humanitarian immigration relief to highlight how the US immigration system fails to protect this vulnerable population and penalises these children for their own victimisation.

中文翻译：

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联合起来：美国移民系统如何惩罚和未能保护被帮派贩运从事犯罪活动的中美洲未成年人

本文讨论了美国移民系统未能保护中美洲未成年人，这些未成年人被贩运用于犯罪活动的剥削。特别是，它着重于美国移民系统拒绝对被迫参与 Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) 和第 18 街帮派犯罪活动的中美洲未成年人的人道主义保护，而是拘留他们的方式。本文将在美国更倾向于将移民定为犯罪的背景下研究这一趋势，特别是在中美洲逃离暴力的未成年人。