Across New York City, there’s a quiet but urgent crisis. Children are arriving in the U.S. alone, and are now racing against the clock to secure legal protection before they turn 21. Without it, they risk incarceration or deportation to countries that they’ve barely escaped.
A grassroots network is stepping in to change that story. Volunteers, most of them everyday New Yorkers, are serving as “legal mentors” to guide these kids through the daunting immigration court system.
The mentors serve as steady, trusted adults who walk with them into courtrooms, help them connect with pro bono lawyers, offer general life guidance, and basically make sure the kids aren’t left to navigate New York City and the system alone.
Other ways to help would be as Accompaniers at the courts, Legal Assistance (filing habeas petitions, etc) Joining your neighborhood ICE Watch, and fundraising to pay application and court fees.