The influx of unaccompanied indigenous Guatemalan youth migrating to the United States has become a pressing humanitarian concern, with over 60,000 minors apprehended at the southern border in 2022 alone. This paper examines the complex interplay of factors driving this migration, focusing on the Western Highlands departments of Huehuetenango, Quiché, and San Marcos - regions that account for a disproportionate number of child migrants. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of census and migration data with qualitative insights from literature and advocate interviews, this study reveals how poverty, limited educational access, gender-based violence, climate change impacts, and the enduring legacies of settler colonialism converge to propel young people on perilous journeys northward. The findings challenge simplistic narratives of migration, highlighting instead a complex web of push and pull factors rooted in historical inequities and contemporary socio-economic realities. The paper argues that current deterrence-focused policies fail to address the root causes of migration and may exacerbate vulnerabilities. Instead, I propose a rights-based framework for addressing this issue, emphasizing sustainable development, improved educational access, youth empowerment initiatives, and decolonial approaches to aid and policymaking. By situating the phenomenon of unaccompanied child migration within broader historical and socio-economic contexts, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of migration dynamics and advocates for holistic, long-term solutions to a complex and ongoing humanitarian challenge.