The CILA team is excited to share an updated version of one of CILA’s signature resources, the CILA Pro Bono Guide: Working with Children and Youth in Immigration Cases. The 2026 version is now available to download for free on CILA’s website on CILA’s Pro Bono Matters webpage and the CILA Resources At A Glance webpage! CILA account holders can also find the resource after logging in to their CILA account.
CILA regularly updates this resource to reflect changes in immigration law and policy affecting children’s immigration law. CILA originally issued the CILA Pro Bono Guide in 2020 and previously updated the resource in 2021 and 2023. The Guide is designed for pro bono attorneys and practitioners new to working with children and youth in immigration matters. It may also serve as a helpful reference for more experienced immigration attorneys and representatives.
The 152-page resource covers important skills (including trauma-informed lawyering and interviewing tips and strategies), key forms of legal relief (such as asylum and special immigrant juvenile status), research tips, and practicing before USCIS and in immigration court. Each section includes an overview of the applicable substantive law along with practical tips and links to additional resources to learn more.
Are you a law student or attorney interested in volunteering? CILA hosts a platform Pro Bono Matters for Children Facing Deportation that includes available cases nationwide for immigrant youth in need of pro bono representation. Make a difference in the life of a child by working on a case!
Are you interested in getting involved and learning more? View CILA’s Get Involved webpage to learn more about the issues impacting immigrant children and youth and about how to get involved.
CILA is here to support immigration attorneys and pro bono attorneys! CILA provides numerous resources and recorded trainings on CILA’s website to support pro bono attorneys. Technical assistance is also available for certain pro bono attorneys, including those who take a case through CILA’s Pro Bono Matters for Children Facing Deportation platform. If you are interested in accessing more CILA resources and recorded trainings, sign up for a CILA account.
Stay Connected
If you are an aspiring advocate or interested in learning more about pro bono representation, CILA invites you to connect with us.
- Sign up to receive CILA’s monthly newsletter for advocates in the field: Champions for Immigrant Youth. Sign up to receive CILA’s quarterly newsletter for pro bono attorneys & others who want to follow our work: Pro Bono Matters.
- Follow CILA on social media on Facebook and LinkedIn.
- We ask you to support CILA and our mission to build capacity for those working to advance the rights of immigrant children seeking protection and due process through our legal system, and donate to CILA.
- Read more about CILA in CILA’s Annual Reports.