With the National Celebration of Pro Bono happening this week, October 23 through 29, 2022, CILA shares how important pro bono is in children’s immigration cases.
The numbers speak volumes. Almost half of unaccompanied children do not have representation nationwide—over 43,000 youth. This information comes from current statistics from the Executive Office for Immigration Review or immigration court. Until unaccompanied children have appointed attorneys representing them, there is a need for pro bono attorneys to fill the gap.
Children need help understanding their options for legal relief. They need someone to stand by their side in immigration court when going before a judge. They need help when filing petitions and applications before an immigration agency.
To those who are already involved, we want to say thank you for your time, your care, and for using your skills to help a child.
And to those who are not yet engaged, we ask you to get involved in a case and to spread the word—about the need and where to find pro bono opportunities.
If you want to help a child facing deportation, there are pro bono opportunities to help children and youth across the nation. View available pro bono opportunities on CILA’s platform. Learn more in CILA’s “Pro Bono Matters for Children Facing Deportation Info Sheet for Volunteers.” With CILA resources like the CILA Pro Bono Guide and 101 recorded videos, CILA has many resources to support you. CILA also provides technical assistance to answer case specific questions and hosts several working groups to create space for collaboration and community.
If you are not an attorney, there are still ways to get engaged in the issues and advocate for youth. We invite you to learn more and consider other ways to get involved.