New York, NY—Today, credible reports have emerged that the Trump administration is prepping a new enforcement operation targeted at unaccompanied children. According to the leaked plans, children who are in court proceedings to prove their legal rights to stay in the U.S. will be threatened with indefinite detention and immediate transfer to ICE on their 18th birthday–unless they drop their cases. For those with parents in the U.S., the letter threatens the parents with arrest as well. The newest operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expected to roll out today, though the implementing policy has yet to be formally released.
More than 50,000 unaccompanied children have been reunified with families in New York in the past 10 years. The NYIC advises any child or other person who receives a threat letter to contact an immigration attorney immediately.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Children fleeing violence and seeking safety deserve compassion, stability, and fairness–not cruelty. Each and every one of us, regardless of age or circumstance, also deserves a fair chance to present our case in a court of law. Instead of protecting these rights, the federal government is creating new pathways to deny safety to those who are most vulnerable. This policy pressures children to abandon their legal claims and return to a life of fear and danger without ever receiving a fair hearing. The chaos built into this policy will devastate families and communities – and it is targeted to hurt children. We call on the Trump Administration to reverse course on this policy, respect and uphold due process. We call on our New York State elected representatives to protect all young people in our state, pass the Access to Representation Act to guarantee that every immigrant–regardless of age–has legal representation in immigration court, ensuring due process, protecting families, and reaffirming our country’s commitment to justice and freedom for all.”