New York commits millions to provide legal aid for immigrant children facing ‘nightmare’ deportation from ICE, and left to fight alone

The state and city leaders described what many immigrant children are experiencing as a “nightmare.” Appearing before an immigration judge without a parent, often in a language they do not understand, and now without guaranteed legal representation after the Trump administration allowed a longstanding federal contract providing legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children to expire.

Officials said the funding will support approximately 1,400 minors. Until July 31, the federal government had been required to provide legal representation to these children under a contract that had existed for nearly two decades, including during the administration of former President George W. Bush. Advocates say children are especially vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking, and being returned to dangerous situations without legal assistance.

As the Trump administration continues its aggressive deportation efforts, officials say many children — including some whose parents have been detained by ICE — are now left to navigate the complex U.S. immigration system alone.

“Imagine being that little kid so scared in an unfamiliar country, missing mom and dad, not knowing much English, trying to defend yourself in a courtroom. Any parent knows that is preposterous. It’s cruel. It’s illegal,” Hochul said during a press conference at her Midtown office on Aug. 12. “These cruel, depraved decisions can be a death warrant for our kids, whose only sin is being born in poverty or in a country consumed with political violence.”

Many of the children’s hearings take place at 201 Varick St., where they often appear remotely via Zoom before an immigration judge. According to New York Immigration Coalition President and CEO Murad Awawdeh, judges are increasingly forced to tell children they must find legal representation on their own.

“Imagine being that little kid so scared in an unfamiliar country, missing mom and dad, not knowing much English, trying to defend yourself in a courtroom. Any parent knows that is preposterous. It’s cruel. It’s illegal,” Hochul said. Photo by Dean Moses

“Just last week, a child showed up to immigration court, and the judge told him: ‘You need to find a lawyer.’ And the child was like, ‘How do I do that?’ He was like, ‘It’s not up to me. You need to figure it out.’ And then the child said, ‘I need help with my asylum application. Can you help me?’ A child asking a deportation judge to support them in filling out an asylum application — that is the world we are living in right now,” Awawdeh said. “It is beyond horrific that we have to even have these fights in this moment.”

While many of these children are in the child welfare system, officials estimate that more than 250 children are currently detained by the Department of Homeland Security in New York. They fear that this number could increase following the termination of Temporary Protected Status for many Haitians, leaving more families vulnerable to ICE detention while also stripping many of their legal authorization to work.

Mamdani said the loss of legal representation could have devastating consequences for immigrant children seeking to remain in the United States.

“The federal government will tell you that they have fulfilled this contract with other legal services providers, yet they have selected firms that lack the credibility and the seriousness to protect these children,” Mamdani said. “Make no mistake about it: the refusal to renew this contract with providers who specialize in this work is nothing less than a deportation order for children as young as five years old.”

“The federal government will tell you that they have fulfilled this contract with other legal services providers, yet they have selected firms that lack the credibility and the seriousness to protect these children,” Mamdani said. “Take one organization whose founder and former CEO, a retired ICE agent, resigned due to sexual misconduct allegations. Make no mistake about it: the refusal to renew this contract with providers who specialize in this work is nothing less than a deportation order for children as young as five years old.”Photo by Dean Moses

“I know that there are some on the right who may delight in that,” he continued. “And yet what could be less American than depriving those within our justice system of the fundamental right to due process?”

The announcement comes amid what immigrant advocates describe as a sharp increase in ICE enforcement across New York City.

On Monday, Queens residents and immigrant rights organizations rallied in Corona, alleging that masked federal agents have been carrying out arrests in the neighborhood almost daily for several weeks.

The surge has also been felt in Manhattan. On Aug. 2, protesters gathered outside NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital after a man was reportedly detained inside the emergency room by masked federal agents. A DHS vehicle entered the emergency bay as demonstrators protested outside, while the detained man was reportedly removed through another exit.

Days earlier, on July 30, 72-year-old Linda Wolff was pepper-sprayed by a masked Department of Homeland Security agent while filming on her cellphone in Inwood.

Wolff, who says she plans to pursue legal action against DHS, attended Wednesday’s announcement and said the recent increase in immigration enforcement has left many New Yorkers fearful.

“It felt like I didn’t have any rights, and I didn’t have my First Amendment, and I didn’t have the Constitution behind me,” Wolff said. “I was speaking out that day because I care about the safety of my fellow New Yorkers who are being snatched up off the street.”