Escaping violence and oppression in one's homeland can be terrifying for an adult, let alone a child. It is a tragic and common occurrence for many children to attempt to gain access into California and elsewhere in the United States without parents or other adults to protect and guide them. The fear and uncertainty these children may experience while seeking safety in an unfamiliar country can seem impossible to imagine. Ideally, unaccompanied minors would be offered adequate shelter and food, as well as compassionate care, when they come into the country, but new reports suggest otherwise.