Defending immigrant children
Currently, over 150 of our Fellows exclusively represent vulnerable unaccompanied children across the country. These kids have survived unimaginable trauma, many having fled violence, persecution, and trafficking. With a lawyer, a child has an 80% chance of staying in safety. As we work to help thousands of individuals in need each year, Immigrant Justice Corps is the only organization developing the next generation of immigration lawyers and advocates.
Together, we represent access to justice, hope for the future, and the courage to stand up for immigrants’ rights.
Below, our Fellows share their experiences representing children, the impact of funding cuts and why their work remains essential.
“Our clients are seeking a legal way to create a brand-new life here. Many of the unaccompanied minors wish to join the military one day, want to become teachers, or want to become doctors. The attack on funding and legal services providers unnecessarily hurts our clients as less resources mean less representation. Our clients, unaccompanied minors, are just children. They should not be held responsible for representing themselves in court. We must stand up, advocate, and pool resources together to help these children.”
Andrea Faulknor
2024 Justice Fellow
“A world in which there is no longer funding for immigration representation for unaccompanied children is a dystopian one. Immigration lawyers for children should not be a privilege, but a right, and fully funded. As Justice Fellows, our role is to safeguard our clients’ interests, to explain to them that they have crossed the border between two countries, and what happens next. Then, we do everything in our power to represent them in an immigration system that uses all possible tools to send them away.”
Elsa Raker
2024 Justice Fellow
“Many media outlets will promote the narrative that unaccompanied children who come into the U.S. from certain countries are gang members. The reality, however, is exactly the opposite. Many of these children come in order to escape forced gang recruitment. Rather than join a gang, these children embark on dangerous journeys, leaving behind loved ones in their home countries, to come to a land where they hope to find safety and tranquility. The bravery of these children is unmatched, and I am continually inspired by my clients’ stories to continue fighting for them.”
Kenneth Tea
2023 Justice Fellow
