Aug 09, 2014 03:47 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Young illegal migrants are subjected to exploitation, poverty and marginalization in the United States due to lack of protective laws and parental guidance, according to a new study by the Center for Poverty Research at the University of California, Davis.

"They come to the U.S. to find a way out of poverty," said Stephanie Lynnette Canizales, the researcher on the project, in a statement. "They are the caretakers of entire families across the border and are left to fend for themselves in the U.S."

Approximately 5 million undocumented youth currently live in the U.S. today, with 1.1 million in California alone.

For the study, the researchers observed and surveyed unaccompanied minors in Los Angeles who had come to the U.S. from Guatemala between July 2012 and August 2013. They worked in garment factories, service sector, construction, maintenance and domestic jobs to support families at their native places. At the time of the study, these Central American workers were between 18 and 35 years of age and had lived in the U.S. between four and 19 years. 

Canizales said that without proper legal protection policies and parental guidance, these young people are easily exploited than an average low-wage worker.

Most of the surveyed ones worked in dimly lit, poorly ventilated garment factories for up to 11 hours per day and six days per week. They receive an average income of between $85 and $420 per week. Wage theft was also commonly reported to the study authors.

"They can't go to school because they work during all school hours," said Canizales. "They tell me, 'I know I need to learn English to get out of this kind of work but I can't.' There is this assumption that children are coming here with the intention of family reunification, or that there is some kind of protection from their unaccompanied status, but some are transitioning into adulthood without their parents."

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals helps illegal youth to attain legalization status based on their academic achievement or potential service to the military. However, up to 62 percent of the unlawful youth population are omitted because of their poor education status and inability to qualify to serve in the military. This group includes the young migrant workers in this research.

Canizales said that an amnesty based on their duration of stay would permit these adult workers to earn at least the minimum wage. This would decrease their working hours and eliminate the fear of being sacked or deported for reporting unfair treatment and work conditions. As a result, these workers can attend school and complete their education.

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