Q&A
Past initiatives for screening and supporting immigrant youth in immigration court
1:39:33
·
146 sec
Council Member Alexa Avilés questioned MOIA representatives about past initiatives for screening and supporting immigrant youth in immigration court. Key points included:
- In 2014-2015, MOIA had announced an initiative to have a city staffer in federal immigration court to engage and screen youth at their first appearance in the juvenile docket.
- This initiative is no longer in place, and MOIA does not currently have a city staffer at New York Immigration Court screening youth for benefits eligibility.
- MOIA representatives believe that since that time, the field of service providers, city agencies, and partners have increased the visibility and availability of resources and information.
- The council member expressed concern about the lack of current screening efforts in immigration court, given the increased numbers of unaccompanied youth.
- MOIA representatives were unsure about current activities in immigration court related to screening and support.
- The discussion highlighted a potential gap in services for unaccompanied youth in the immigration court system.
Alexa Avilés
1:39:33
I I hear optimism that maybe we don't need it, but what we're seeing is clearly we do need it.
1:39:41
And clearly, there's been a real focus in growth and services to the credit of many of your agencies and many New Yorkers, right, addressing the issue.
1:39:50
But it is clear the numbers have doubled.
1:39:53
It is clear the funding has not.
1:39:56
And we have a serious situation that we need to pay some focused attention to.
1:40:02
In 2014 in 2015, Maya also had announced an initiative.
1:40:06
I think this is what you were referring to to to have a city staffer in federal immigration court.
1:40:11
To engage and screen at very first appearance in the juvenile docket.
1:40:16
Is this initiative still in place?
Tom Tortorici
1:40:18
Moi does not have a city staffer at New York Immigration Court screening youth for benefits eligibility and providing information and resources.
1:40:28
However, again, I do believe that since that time, the field generally of service providers together with city agencies and partners have increased the visibility and availability of resources information.
Alexa Avilés
1:40:46
Do you know of anyone that is actually in immigration court in the juvenile doc doing this?
Tom Tortorici
1:40:55
The Office of Civil Justice oversees the eye care program as well as the immigrant opportunities initiative program, which are the programs through which the majority of this work would be carried out.
1:41:05
As well as the unaccompanied minors and families program.
1:41:11
I don't have specific information about their activities in immigration court.
1:41:16
However, those programs do handle more complex immigration legal cases, which immigration matters related to immigrant youth would normally fall fall under.
Alexa Avilés
1:41:29
Given the numbers alone, would you Would you think it would be an urgent matter to check-in with immigration court to see if the services are being offered at this at this point?
Tom Tortorici
1:41:43
I absolutely do think that it's important to ensure that all immigrant New Yorkers and a especially on accompanied immigrant youth have access to information about available resources and services in their language and in a format that they can connect with.