For over 15 years, we've been at the forefront of protecting unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children worldwide, defending their rights and safety.
United States
Joined August 2009
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$30,335. That's how much a child could face in fees and fines while seeking safety in the U.S.
For children fleeing violence and persecution, these costs create another barrier to protection.
A child's safety should never depend on their ability to pay.
bit.ly/3UQsjGI
ALT The image is a detailed receipt titled "The Cost of Seeking Safety in the U.S." for a case from Carla'sx, aged 14, with the reason being "seeking protection." It lists fees such as entering ports of entry ($5,300), asylum application ($50), and several others, totaling $30,355.00. The bottom features the logo for "Kids In Need of Defense" (KIND).
Thank you to @RepMGS and @RepSylviaGarcia for their leadership on this critical oversight.
Children need independent attorneys who can challenge government decisions and protect their rights, free from conflicts of interest.
scanlon.house.gov/news/docum…
KIND retweeted
Over the summer I wrote about Elder Chavez who came to the US by himself and was granted a special legal status for kids abandoned by their parents.
ICE arrested him after a minor traffic stop.
Now nearly a year later, he’s still in detention. 1/
propublica.org/article/unacc…
An 8-year-old boy went to an immigration check-in with his uncle. He left in federal custody, separated from his family.
Immigration enforcement took priority over children's safety and well-being. Children should never be enforcement targets.
kpbs.org/news/border-immigra…
Children seeking protection in the U.S. could face around $30,000 in federal fees and fines, including a proposed $18,000 fine. Mounting debt can increase their risk of exploitation and trafficking.
Read KIND's new report. supportkind.org/resources/th…
After 281 days in federal custody, a 9-year-old girl returned to El Salvador with her mother, leaving her siblings behind in the U.S.
Prolonged custody and barriers to family reunification are forcing families into impossible choices.
cbsnews.com/news/migrant-chi…
HHS is proposing that unaccompanied children be represented by attorneys employed directly by the agency, raising concerns about conflicts of interest, independence, and confidentiality.
Urge HHS to protect independent legal representation for children: bit.ly/4BAhN6L
ALT A silhouetted person sits at a table with a child, set against a background of a courtroom scene. The text reads, "A child's lawyer should answer to the child" with a message to the Department of Health and Human Services about legal representation. The logo for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is in the bottom right corner.
For unaccompanied children in immigration court, independent legal representation is critical.
KIND's Jennifer Podkul spoke with WORLD about proposed changes to legal services and concerns over attorney independence and conflicts of interest.
wng.org/roundups/white-house…
KIND retweeted
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⚖️ ¡Participa en los Foros Previos del #PremioSentencias2026!
Una sentencia puede cambiar una vida. Te invitamos a participar en los Foros Previos, un encuentro para reflexionar sobre los desafíos y buenas prácticas en la garantía de los derechos en contextos de movilidad.
KIND retweeted
🔴 ¡ESTAMOS EN VIVO!
Acompáñanos en la transmisión de los Foros Previos del #PremioSentencias2026, un espacio para compartir perspectivas, experiencias y reflexiones sobre el acceso a la justicia y los derechos humanos.
🔗 Sigue la transmisión aquí:
facebook.com/SinFronterasIAP
KIND retweeted
Desde 2026, los costos de las tarjetas de residencia temporal y permanente han aumentado, en promedio, 118%.
Para muchas personas y familias el costo para regularizar su situación migratoria puede convertirse en una barrera.
#PPEF2027Migración👇
A 7-year-old appeared in immigration court without an attorney and was ordered to leave the U.S. within 30 days.
As proceedings accelerate, more children face life-altering decisions without legal representation.
tpr.org/border-immigration/2…
KIND retweeted
Yesterday, @NIPNLG, @supportKIND, @PublicCounsel, @LowensteinLLP, and @DWTLaw presented oral arguments on behalf of tens of thousands of SIJS Youth across the country, @carecen_ny and @centrolegal.
Watch KIND's Jason Boyd discuss growing concerns about information sharing between ORR and ICE during a press briefing hosted by Acacia Center for Justice last week.
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Children as young as 5 are reportedly being offered $3,000 to leave the U.S., sometimes without an attorney or time to consider the consequences.
A child cannot be expected to understand the legal protections they are giving up.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law…
📣 México discute su Paquete Económico 2027. Junto con @IMUMIDF y @GTPM_MX analizamos el presupuesto y la reforma a la Ley Federal de Derechos.
Trámites migratorios inaccesibles ponen a familias y niñez en mayor riesgo.
Nuestra postura👇
bit.ly/4rSWh8U
What happens when the system moves faster than a child’s case can be properly prepared? KIND's Emily Norman tells us the impact of accelerated asylum interviews and immigration court proceedings.
Learn more: bit.ly/4jNBiCm
Children in immigration court need independent lawyers whose sole duty is to advocate for them.
AP reports HHS is creating an in-house legal team to represent unaccompanied children, raising serious concerns about independence of counsel and due process.
apnews.com/article/migrant-c…
Family unity must be central to migration policy.
150+ governments, UN agencies & stakeholders support the GCM Family Unity Initiative. KIND joined partners to help shape Roadmap 2030 and advance family-centered migration pathways.
Learn more: bit.ly/4rPMwZ8
ALT A person carrying a young child is visible, with a text overlay promoting family unity in migration policy. The text highlights support from over 150 governments, UN agencies, and other stakeholders for the initiative. The bottom of the image includes the logos for the GCM Family Unity Initiative and KIND (Kids in Need of Defense).