Repatriation of Unaccompanied U.S. Citizen Minor from Northeast Syria

Last week the United States repatriated a U.S. citizen minor from a displaced persons camp in northeast Syria for unification with the child’s family.  We thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Defense for their assistance.  Our interagency efforts have given this child, who has known nothing of life outside of the camps, a future free from the influence and dangers of ISIS terrorism.

Approximately 30,000 individuals from more than 70 countries remain in two displaced persons camps in northeast Syria, the majority of whom are children under the age of 12; they deserve a chance at life outside the camps. 

The only durable solution to the humanitarian and security crisis in these displaced persons camps in northeast Syria is for countries of origin to repatriate, rehabilitate, reintegrate, and where appropriate, ensure accountability for their nationals.  The same goes for former ISIS fighters held in detention centers in northeast Syria.  As we do with our own nationals, every country must take responsibility for its nationals in northeast Syria and not look to others to solve the problem for them.  They should also share in the burden incurred in caring for and repatriating their nationals.

Sincere thanks to our local partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces, for their assistance facilitating this repatriation and their commitment to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS.