Report: Mexican children vulnerable at border

WASHINGTON A new report says a law designed to protect Mexican children who cross the US border alone is not being executed well, so the children remain vulnerable to drug cartels, gangs and other dangers.

The Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act of 2008 is designed to address concerns about Mexican children arrested at the border and immediately returned to possibly dangerous situations in Mexico. The law says children can only be returned after officials determine they are not human trafficking victims, don't have an asylum claim or if they volunteer to go home. But the report released Wednesday by Appleseed and Appleseed Mexico, which advocate on behalf of undocumented children, says law officers without adequate training in interviewing children are sending back children who should be protected under the law. (AP)