Every chid deserves to feel safe - Trez Ataia

2024 Justice Fellow Trez Ataia, a Fellow at Catholic Charities of Dallas, writes about the importance of legal representation for unaccompanied children and the impact of funding cuts.

Trez is part of the Unaccompanied Children Program, which is currently funded by the federal government, but remains at risk. Without funding, more than 2,000 children represented by IJC Fellows are left with no representation in immigration court, forced to navigate the system by themselves.

Every child deserves to feel safe. But for many unaccompanied children who arrive in the United States alone, safety is not something they’ve ever known. They have fled dangerous situations—violence, abandonment, exploitation—with hope for protection and stability. What they find instead is a complex immigration system that they must face without a parent, and often, without a lawyer. 

As an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow working with unaccompanied children, I see the courage it takes for these young people to tell their stories. I see fear in their eyes when they receive a court notice. I also see the relief and hope that comes when they learn they don’t have to go through it alone. 

Legal representation gives these children more than just a chance in court—it gives them a chance at a future. It allows them to apply for protections like asylum or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. It helps them reunite with family, go back to school, and begin to heal. 

But today, these essential legal services are at risk. Funding cuts would mean fewer children with access to legal help. I heard a few stories. More children are facing judges alone. And for many, that means being sent back to the very dangers they fled. 

These children are not just clients, they are children. They laugh, cry, draw, dream. They are trying to build a life with dignity and safety. They deserve our support, not less of it. 

I believe in this work because I believe in them. And I hope we continue to stand by them—not just with compassion, but with the resources that make real protection possible.

Our work is not charity. It is justice. And justice must be funded. 

Want to hear from more Fellows like Trez? Visit our Fellow Story page to learn more!