The impact of the U.S. immigration and legal systems on children and youth ampnbspIn the United States millions of children are undocumented migrants or have family members who came to the country without authorization. The unique challenges with which these children and youth must cope demand special attention. Illegal Encounters considers illegality deportability and deportation in the lives of young peopleamp8212those who migrate as well as those who are affected by the migration of others. ampnbspA primary focus of the volume is to understand how children and youth encounter move through or are outside of a range of legal processes including border enforcement immigration detention federal custody courts and state processes of categorization. Even if young people do not directly interact with state immigration systemsamp8212because they are U.S. citizens or have avoided detentionamp8212they are nonetheless deeply affected by the reach of the government in its many forms.ampnbspContributors privilege the voices and everyday experiences of immigrant children and youth themselves. By combining different perspectives from advocates service providers attorneys researchers and young immigrants the volume presents rich accounts that can contribute to informed debates and policy reforms. ampnbspIllegal Encounters sheds light on the unique ways in which policies laws and legal categories shape so much of daily life for young immigrants. The book makes visible the burdens hopes and potential of a population of young people and their families who have been largely hidden from public view and are currently under siege following their movement through complicated immigration systems and institutions in the United States. ampnbsp