Dear Friend,

In a scathing indictment of our country’s failed immigration system this week, the New York Times documented the horrific experiences some unaccompanied children face after arriving here—specifically, exploitation by American companies who hire children for patently dangerous work to keep prices low for consumers and increase profits. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

This is not the first time children who fled their own countries have been subjected to harm after arriving in our country. For nearly 20 years, we've stood side by side with unaccompanied children seeking safety in the United States. Every day, our staff and volunteers bear witness to their experiences in federal detention, their fight to be reunified with family or placed in foster care, and to find stability in the community while they wait—sometimes years—for our government to hear their requests for protection and permanency.

Working alongside our Volunteer Child Advocates, many children have been able to fight their immigration cases, which gives them a better chance at receiving work authorization and staying safely in the U.S. We need more volunteers who can accompany them in this difficult journey. Join us in advocating for immigrant children and a legal system that protects their rights and defends them from exploitation.