Despite COVID-19, Young Center staff around the country continue to fight for immigrant children. The pandemic has added an extra layer of urgency to our work.

Volunteer Child Advocates continue to meet with the children they are appointed to weekly, but now over video or on phone calls. Our staff are working with them to find creative ways to bond and build trust with children at risk of increasing isolation. We're closely monitoring the situation and postponing Child Advocate trainings as needed to protect the health of our volunteers and staff.

We continue to fight for the best interests of children in government custody. In anticipation of possible restrictions to cross-state travel, we are working to expedite children’s release and reunification with family whenever possible. And we are working at a frantic pace for children who need to be reunited with family members in home country, before international travel restrictions take effect and leave them in government custody for prolonged periods.

Despite undeniable risks, the Department of Justice continues to hold court proceedings for most children in government custody, including the children we serve. On Friday, March 13, Young Center staff in Houston accompanied children to immigration court where some of them waited for seven hours for their cases, often standing together in hallways. Forced to be on the front lines, staff have to balance their own safety and the health of their families and the need for immigrant children to have someone by their side at court. 

Our policy team spent the past few days advocating for a halt of all non-emergency court proceedings to protect children, Child Advocates, attorneys, judges and others in the courts. You can join us in this advocacy by Retweeting us on Twitter and writing your own tweets at the @DOJ_EOIR. 

Our work is ongoing and your support is now more important than ever.

Thank you,
Maria Woltjen
Executive Director

Updates about upcoming events in light of COVID-19

• Around the country, we'll all be participating in the Walk with Waymakers campaign in two weeks by taking a (symbolic or neighborhood!) walk in support of the children we continue to serve during walk-to-work week. Please join us or donate to a walker to raise funds for immigrant children in custody. 
• In Chicago, we've postponed our annual fundraising soiree. More details to come as the situation evolves.
• In Arizona, the benefit concert hosted by the Scottsdale Neighborhood Arts Place featuring Claribel Cone, Ioannis Goudelis, and Mario Mendivil has been postponed until further notice. 
• Just a reminder: we are profoundly grateful to every supporter who holds a fundraiser to benefit our work, but we strongly encourage everyone to postpone or make virtual any upcoming events. Thank you!