Unaccompanied minors, some barely school-aged, are facing U.S. immigration court alone as the Trump administration enforces rapid proceedings without guaranteed legal representation.
Unaccompanied minors, some barely school-aged, are facing U.S. immigration court alone as the Trump administration enforces rapid proceedings without guaranteed legal representation.
In a federal immigration courtroom Monday, children aged six to 17 appeared virtually from government custody—most without attorneys—as Judge Jennifer Durkin acknowledged the system’s flaws: “My job is to listen to why you came.” Only two had counsel: a hospitalized girl with cerebral palsy and a six-year-old boy, both nearing family reunification. U.S. law denies government-funded lawyers in civil immigration cases, forcing reliance on nonprofits.
New Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) policies—like mandatory fingerprinting and DNA tests for sponsors—have slowed releases, particularly for undocumented families. “This makes it nearly impossible,” said advocate Neha Desai. With hearings accelerated to weeks, not months, children fleeing violence must navigate legal complexities alone.
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