“I urge you to take immediate action to defend the Unaccompanied Children Program, which has provided vital legal services and direct representation to some of the most vulnerable children. This program has supported 26,000 unaccompanied children with direct legal representation, legal orientations, and other services for over 100,000 children annually. However, the government ended funding for this critical program, leaving children alone to defend themselves against a highly trained ICE attorney.

This program’s funding has historically benefitted from bipartisan support since 2003. Congress is responsible for defending the rights of children. Legal aid is more critical than ever due to ongoing ICE enforcement. It is virtually impossible for a child to understand their legal options or successfully navigate complex legal proceedings alone, especially when detained, without a specialized children’s rights attorney. Studies have shown that immigration judges are almost 100 times less likely to grant relief to unaccompanied children without counsel compared to those with representation.

Many of these children have already experienced severe trauma and violence, and they are at risk of further harm, exploitation, and trafficking. I urge you to speak out and take action against the termination of legal access for unaccompanied kids and reinstate the Unaccompanied Children Program.”