What is CILA?
We are the Children’s Immigration Law Academy (CILA), and our work is to support legal service providers who represent and work with youth nationwide on their immigration matters. We do not provide direct representation to youth in their proceedings, but we created this page to offer you all information so that you can better understand the immigration system in the United States. If you are looking for information that is not found on this page or about your case specifically, it would be best to speak to a legal service provider on the Free Legal Answers service of the American Bar Association (ABA). Through Free Legal Answers, you can ask a question virtually and you will receive a response.
CILA developed this guide to help sponsors and advocates of unaccompanied children understand the eligibility requirements and process for accessing Special Education (SPED) program services and supports in public K-12 education in the United States. The resource explains eligibility, the SPED evaluation process, the services and supports provided through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), alternative services available to students with disabilities who are not eligible for the SPED program, and a list of national organizations and resources.
CILA hopes this guide equips and empowers sponsors and advocates with the knowledge and tools needed to help unaccompanied children with disabilities access the educational services they are entitled to. It is also available in Spanish,
This social media resource is available in English and Spanish. CILA created this social media resource to help youth understand how their online activity can impact their immigration process. This resource provides an overview of recent immigration policy changes related to social media use and offers practical tips for immigrant youth to stay safe online. This resource will help youth understand and recognize actions to take to stay in control of their social media presence, as well as protect their personal information, manage their digital footprint, and keep their accounts secure. It encourages youth to pause and think before they post, build intentional habits that support their safety and privacy, and own their online story.
Recent news reports indicate that Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents may be prioritizing unaccompanied children who are not currently in removal proceedings. Being informed is key, as is talking to an immigration lawyer. Have questions? Read more about steps you can take to protect your rights.
In 2025, agents from Homeland Security investigations (also known as HSI), a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security, started conducting what they are calling “wellness checks” on certain unaccompanied children. There have been reports of these wellness checks from HSI agents happening in many places around the country.
CILA created this explainer for immigrant youth in both Englishand Spanish. This guide aims to support unaccompanied youth in understanding key financial concepts that are essential as they navigate young adulthood. The guide introduces foundational topics in financial literacy to empower youth to make informed choices, gain confidence in managing their finances, and lay the groundwork to build long-term financial stability.
CILA created this explainer for immigrant youth in both English and Spanish to help you understand the healthcare system in the United States. This resource includes information about their rights to medical care, how to access health care, and their options to get health insurance or participate in government programs to help pay for medical costs.
A New Path:
My Toolkit for Navigating Life in the United States
Listen to My Voice
A Video for Youth and Advocates
This video was created by CILA for all those who help immigrant youth from Indigenous or Garífuna communities. It offers the perspective of three of them. Anabel, Vicente, and Nancy entered the U.S. as unaccompanied minors and they benefitted from the assistance of legal services organizations. They have some advice to share. All we have to do is listen to their voices.
Your Future, Your Voice
A Video Made by Youth and for Youth
This video was made by individuals who were previously detained and fighting their immigration cases as minors. Today they are all adults and permanent residents or citizens of the United States. In the video they explain how they felt when they were detained and why they chose to trust in the legal services offered to them. Creating this video was the idea of one of the individuals who shares her story, Jiveli Banegas.
Understanding the U.S. Immigration System
We are not your lawyer and we do not offer direct legal assistance. It is important to consult with an attorney who specializes in U.S. immigration law about your situation, especially if you currently find yourself in removal proceedings.
The information that we provide here is basic information about the system so that you can better understand how everything works. You should know that if you find yourself in removal proceedings, or if you simply want to file an application to obtain legal status, you have the right to an attorney, but the government will not provide you with one. You will have to pay an attorney, or if you cannot, seek help with a non-profit organization. You can find a list of legal service providers here. Just select your state
and then look for the city where the immigration court closest to you is located. It is important to know that there are notaries that offer assistance with applications, but watch out, notaries in the United States are not attorneys. Their work is to certify the identity of a person that signs a document,
but they do not have knowledge of immigration law in the United States. There are individuals who have paid a lot of money to notaries who misguided them in their cases.
Each immigration situation is different. It may be that you have several ways to obtain lawful status, only one way, or no way at the current time. What is clear is that the immigration laws change frequently, and for that reason, the help of someone who knows the laws and your case well is very important. If you want information on some ways to fight deportation and/or file an application to obtain lawful status, you can consult the internet page created by Immi. It explains various ways to remain in the United States lawfully, including some that tend to be common among youth like asylum and the special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) visa. For more information, see: Immi, Free and simple information for immigrants
Another great resource is ImportaMi. It helps unaccompanied children across the U.S. get access to legal services and local resources. To access their page in English, click here
Important Information for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Youth
If you are a youth with special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS), we have gathered the following information so that you can understand deferred action and your access to a work authorization document:
Pathway to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and a Green Card
Applying for SIJS can be a long and difficult process. While the process may not look the exact same for everyone, these steps are what most youth seeking SIJS will face along the way. PDF versions of the Pathway resource are available in the following languages:
- English (Click here to download the PDF)
- Spanish (Click here to download the PDF)
- Haitian Creole (Click here to download the PDF)
- French (Click here to download the PDF)
- Arabic (Click here to download the PDF)
Public Service Announcement:
Tips to avoid immigration scams
Whether you are exploring options to obtain lawful status in the United States or preparing to appear in immigration court, please keep these important facts in mind to protect you and your family’s future. This video was made by the American Bar Association's (ABA) Immigration Commission.
For More Information About Finding Free Legal Services
For More Information About Your Case
(it is important to have your “A” number)
To Seek Help
If you find yourself in a difficult situation, look for help. There are many organizations and projects dedicated to helping youth. If English is hard for you to understand, don’t stop yourself because of that. There is help in Spanish as well. See our Spanish page here.