The Young Center filed a comment with the Department of Homeland Security calling for an end to continued family separations at the border based on parents’ alleged criminal histories. Our comment, submitted in collaboration with the Center for the Human Rights of Children at Loyola University in Chicago, urged the Biden Administration’s Family Reunification Task Force to center children’s best interests in all decisions, to recognize and address the racial bias that often underlies determinations of parental fitness, and to uphold the administration’s commitment to restore dignity to the asylum process.

Throughout the month of February, we've been highlighting Black advocates, writers, and artists on Instagram. Click here to scroll through our account and share our posts. Not on Instagram? Here's a list of Black-led organizations we follow featured on Facebook. Interested in learning more about the experiences of Black children in immigration proceedings? Click here to watch a Young Center webinar discussing the the challenges children from countries in Africa face when they seek protection under U.S. immigration law. 

Earlier this month, Florida’s child welfare agency confirmed that it will no longer take equal measures to protect children in government custody by announcing that it will not issue or renew licenses for Florida shelters that care for unaccompanied immigrant children. Florida’s Governor also lashed out at unaccompanied immigrant children, calling them “illegal,” discrediting their valid claims for protection, and attempting, without evidence, to tie them to human and drug trafficking. This outburst followed months of maneuvers against unaccompanied children—children recognized under law as particularly vulnerable and who have the right to seek help from our government. Click here to read the Young Center's statement on the issue. 

Sydette Harry is a digital expert by day, a fundraising mixologist by night, and an unwavering supporter of immigrant children’s rights. Check out how Sydette has been supporting the Young Center and learn about some of the drinks she’s put together to fundraise for our work with children in this short interview.