Unaccompanied Minors

ICE To Deport 10-Year-Old Boy After Court Hearing Without a Lawyer

A 10-year-old Venezuelan boy, Wilfredo Hoyos-Gomez, recently appeared alone in immigration court in Texas while his mother remains in ICE custody. The boy’s mother, Nexoli Anyis Gomez Bracho, was detained after allegedly resisting arrest upon entry into the U.S. with her son in August 2023. Authorities are reportedly seeking to deport Wilfredo to Ecuador, a country to which he has no ties, despite his pending asylum case alongside his mother. This situation highlights concerns about due process for migrant children and the impact of federal funding cuts to legal aid for unaccompanied minors.

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NYC Court: Unrepresented Migrant Children Face Deportation

Migrant children in New York shelters are attending virtual immigration hearings without legal representation due to the termination of a federal contract funding legal services for unaccompanied minors. This has led to a significant increase in the number of children appearing in court without attorneys, leaving them vulnerable to deportation. Data shows a stark contrast in deportation rates between represented and unrepresented children, with the latter facing a much higher likelihood of removal. The situation has prompted nonprofits to scramble for alternative funding and advocates to call for state intervention to fill the massive funding gap.

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