PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Melissa Maria, Supervising Attorney of the Immigration Protection Unit at New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
3:27:44
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134 sec
Melissa Maria from NYLAG highlighted the challenges faced by unaccompanied immigrant youth in navigating complex legal systems without representation. She emphasized the critical need for full legal representation for these vulnerable children to prevent deportation orders and ensure fair outcomes in their immigration cases.
- Unrepresented children often struggle with understanding and following different rules and requirements across various agencies and courts.
- Examples were given of children as young as 10 facing removal orders due to lack of proper representation.
- NYLAG's extensive pro se practice does not work with unaccompanied alien children (UACs) due to their vulnerability and need for greater protection.
Melissa Maria
3:27:44
Thank you.
3:27:45
Council Mamba ambulance, committee members, and staff.
3:27:47
Good afternoon, and thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
3:27:50
My name is Melissa Maria, and I am a supervising attorney with the immigrant protection unit at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
3:27:57
Children are amongst the most vulnerable in our society.
3:27:59
Immigrant youth are expected to be responsible for knowing and understanding their immigration cases the rules and procedures regarding filing with an attending immigration court, filing applications with USIS, and filing and appearing before state court when required.
3:28:13
Each agency or court that an unaccompanied minor interacts with has a different set of rules and requirements making it extremely difficult for unrepresented youth to succeed in their immigration matters.
3:28:23
Children are not represent children who are not represented often have the most difficulty.
3:28:28
Now that serves hundreds of people in removal a year, including children, We have encountered children who are unaware or unable that they have to properly change their address of the immigration court and received removal or deportation orders.
3:28:41
I personally have encountered children as young as ten years old who have witnessed their mother murdered in their home country.
3:28:46
And I know where that they must translate their mother's death certificate and how to properly file things of the immigration court have been ordered, removed.
3:28:54
I have encountered children who have been hospitalized at the time of their immigration court and have been ordered or moved.
3:29:01
In these instances, not having a legal representative explained proper procedure and legal claims or even helped the child's attend court has resulted in a removal order for these children.
3:29:10
Having representation makes significant difference in the outcome of a child's claim, Having legal representation also enables immigrant youth to manage the contextual digital system both at the federal level and at the state level and per and pursue relief available to them.
3:29:23
It is critical that the city reinvest in attorneys to provide full representation to unaccompanied children Given that the legal system actually acknowledges a youth limited capacity, it is essential that the most vulnerable members of society have representation in such proceedings.
3:29:38
Full representation for immigrant youth who are the most vulnerable is essential.
3:29:42
NIOSH has an extensive prosay practice in immigrant file applications and gain the tools to fight their case.
3:29:50
This program specifically does not work with UACs because we know how vulnerable they are and how much more protection they need.
3:29:57
Thank you.