IN THE NEWS

For years, unaccompanied immigrant children in government custody have only been guaranteed two telephone calls per week, 10 minutes each, to family members. 

However, the consistent presence of a loving parent or caregiver is vital to the health and wellbeing of children. That's why we partnered with Physicians for Human Rights' Asylum Network  to call on the government to  ensure that children in custody are able to have regular contact with parents and caregivers to mitigate the harm of family separation and prolonged stays. You can read the op-ed in The Hill here. 

POLICY CORNER

Despite some improvements to immigration policy, the Biden Administration continues to embrace some of the most dangerous and unlawful Trump-era border policies, and taking some proposals even further. Meanwhile, a divided Congress could open the door to legislation that would prolong children’s separation from family and limit their access to protection. 

Join us on February 22 at 12 PM CT/ 1 PM ET for a webinar with members of the Young Center’s policy team to learn about our most recent efforts to promote family unity, protect children in custody, ensure access to fair court proceedings, and narrative change the narrative about immigrant youth through legislative advocacy, litigation, and direct engagement with the Biden administration. Sign up in the link below and learn how you can play a role in ensuring children’s rights to safety, to family, and to be free of detention.

WITH GRATITUDE

We are incredibly grateful to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for their support of our Technical Assistance Program and Child Advocate Program. Over the next three years, their funding will provide critical support in bolstering our efforts to protect the rights and safety of immigrant children, ensure equitable access to language and cultural connection, and reunify separated families.

GET INVOLVED

We are thrilled to invite you to the Washington, D.C. premiere of documentary feature film Seeking Asylum.

"Seeking Asylum" bears witness to the endless deterrents migrants face when petitioning for asylum in the United States. In a dismantled system that has been designed for failure, follow one woman’s journey as she searches for protection for her and her children.

Join us for the exclusive premiere followed by a panel discussion featuring leading immigration experts, including our Policy Director Jennifer Nagda, and the film’s creators from Honeypot Productions. If you are unable to attend, you can watch the film on major streaming platforms February 21st!

We have several volunteer opportunities coming up in our Harlingen, San Antonio, Chicago, and DC offices. Additionally, we have several employment opportunities across our eight locations. Join the fight for immigrant children's rights today! 

We have several events coming up in March! Young Center program staff will be presenting at the American Bar Association's 2023 National Training on Representation and Advocacy for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in Houston March 1 - 3rd.  Our Disability Rights Policy Analyst Anne Kelsey will also be at the Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium in Baltimore March 23 - 24th presenting a workshop on “Advancing Disability Right for Immigrant Children Within and Outside Government Custody.” Registration ends March 9th.