More child 'illegals' cross to US

Thousands of children never get to join their parents in the US

The number of children crossing the border illegally from Mexico into the United States without their parents is growing dramatically, a report says.

The study says migrant children aged between five and 15 are facing discrimination, mistreatment, forced labour and sexual exploitation.

Most of these children are going to the US to join parents or other relatives.

The study was carried out by Unicef and the Mexican government's family agency, Dif, in 11 border towns.

Unicef's Yoriko Yasukawa told the BBC it was a growing problem.

MEXICAN MIGRANT CHILDREN Jan-Jun 2005: 26,330 repatriated 14,000 of them unaccompanied 2004: 39,690 repatriated 10,920 unaccompanied

She said that according to Mexico's Migration Institute, 26,330 children were deported back to Mexico in the first half of 2005.

"Among them were 14,000 children attempting to migrate on their own," she said.

This looks set to eclipse last year's figures.

In the whole of 2004, 39,690 Mexican children were found at the border, of whom 10,920 were on their own.

Ms Yasukawa says that in most cases, the parents travel to the US first. Once they have found jobs they send for their children.

They usually pay a smuggler, or "pollero" $2,000 or more to take the children across the border.

Thousands of children never reach their family in the US - they are discovered by the authorities, taken to special refuges and then deported.