The state and city leaders described what many immigrant children are experiencing as a \u201cnightmare.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
As the Trump administration continues its aggressive deportation efforts, officials say many children \u2014 including some whose parents have been detained by ICE \u2014 are now left to navigate the complex U.S. immigration system alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cImagine 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\u2019s cruel. It\u2019s illegal,\u201d Hochul said during a press conference at her Midtown office on Aug. 12. \u201cThese 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many of the children\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u201cImagine 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\u2019s cruel. It\u2019s illegal,\u201d Hochul said. Photo by Dean Moses<\/p>\n
\u201cJust last week, a child showed up to immigration court, and the judge told him: \u2018You need to find a lawyer.\u2019 And the child was like, \u2018How do I do that?\u2019 He was like, \u2018It\u2019s not up to me. You need to figure it out.\u2019 And then the child said, \u2018I need help with my asylum application. Can you help me?\u2019 A child asking a deportation judge to support them in filling out an asylum application \u2014 that is the world we are living in right now,\u201d Awawdeh said. \u201cIt is beyond horrific that we have to even have these fights in this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mamdani said the loss of legal representation could have devastating consequences for immigrant children seeking to remain in the United States.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Mamdani said. \u201cMake 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe 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,\u201d Mamdani said. \u201cTake 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.\u201dPhoto by Dean Moses<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that there are some on the right who may delight in that,\u201d he continued. \u201cAnd yet what could be less American than depriving those within our justice system of the fundamental right to due process?\u201d<\/p>\n
The announcement comes amid what immigrant advocates describe as a sharp increase in ICE enforcement across New York City.\n<\/p>\n