NJ Consortium for Immigrant Children Denounces Federal Termination of Unaccompanied Children Program

NJCIC Denounces Federal Termination of Unaccompanied Children Program

Jersey City, New Jersey – The New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children (NJCIC) is deeply disturbed by the federal government’s inhumane and short-sighted decision to partially terminate its contract with legal service provider organizations representing unaccompanied children across the United States, effectively gutting the Unaccompanied Children Program nationwide. This decision will leave approximately 26,000 unaccompanied children without legal representation, forcing them to navigate the complicated and severely backlogged immigration system on their own.

The Unaccompanied Children Program provides critical legal services for immigrant children, many of whom seek safety and stability in the U.S. after having endured persecution, abandonment, or other forms of violence, and eliminating this program will have devastating effects on their well-being. “It is impossible to understate the cruelty of this decision,” stated Fred Wied V, NJCIC’s Policy Director, “By ending the contract abruptly, and without a plan in place to ensure the continuation of legal services to unaccompanied children who currently have pending immigration proceedings, some of the most vulnerable children in the U.S. are now left without a lifeline and will be forced to represent themselves in adversarial proceedings against trained government ICE attorneys.”

“The decision to terminate this contract will have devastating impacts on tens of thousands of unaccompanied children,” added Priscilla Monico Marín, NJCIC’s Executive Director, “As a statewide legal service provider, we already have a severe backlog of vulnerable children waiting for representation, and without the federal funding that supported NJ organizations to provide these vital services, it will be impossible for New Jersey to fully meet our children’s needs.”

NJCIC stands in solidarity with the legal service provider organizations that have been negatively impacted by this decision nation-wide and urge the U.S. government to prioritize the safety and security of immigrant children by fully restoring this program.

About the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children

The New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children (NJCIC) is a state-wide legal services and policy advocacy organization dedicated to empowering young immigrants. We provide holistic youthcentered legal representation, lead systemic change to advance immigrant rights, and build community through collaboration and education. We envision a just and equitable NJ where young immigrants can flourish and lead full, fearless lives. For more information or to join our efforts, visit our website at https://njcic.org/

Banner Image: Immigrant child. Image Credit – Getkeel123