About #TreatKidsLikeKids

Children should be playing, learning, and growing—not standing alone before an immigration judge trying to explain why they fled their  country. Yet that’s exactly what happens when unaccompanied minors are denied legal representation in the U.S. immigration system.

Many of these children arrive here seeking safety from unimaginable harm such as abuse, trafficking, exploitation, or extreme poverty. They’ve already endured trauma no child should face. But instead of being met with compassion and care, they’re thrust into a complex legal system designed for adults, expected to navigate it without help.

Immigration law is one of the most complicated areas of U.S. law. Even adults struggle to understand it. For a child, especially one who may not speak English, who has survived trauma, and who is still developing emotionally and cognitively, it’s overwhelming. Without a lawyer, their chances of winning asylum or protection are almost nonexistent. In fact, more than 90% of unrepresented children are sent back to danger.

Legal representation doesn’t just improve outcomes, it restores dignity. It gives children a voice. It allows them to tell their story safely, with someone by their side who understands the law and believes in their right to be protected. It helps them feel seen, heard, and supported.

When kids have lawyers, they don’t have to carry the burden of proving their worth alone. They can begin to heal. They can go to school, reconnect with family, and start imagining a future. They can just be kids.