Employment-Based Immigration Visas for DACA Recipients
Krsna Avila & Dan Berger, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (January 22, 2024)
This practice advisory reviews common employment-based visa options for DACA recipients.
What You Need to Know About Public Charge
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (March 4, 2024)
This Community Explainer reviews public charge, who it impacts, and what immigrants should know regarding certain public benefits and their family’s immigration circumstances.
Health Risks of Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in Federal Custody and in US Communities
Janine Young, Warren Binford, Michael Garcia Bochenek, and Jordan Greenbaum; American Journal of Public Health (February 21, 2024)
A group of medical and legal experts provide an overview health risks for unaccompanied children in U.S. federal custody and recommendations to improve their health and well-being during custody and once released to sponsors.
Families Torn Apart: Language-Based Discrimination at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law & Justice (January 2021)
This reports explores research on the extent to which the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) provided adequate language access to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. Findings identified a failure to provide these federally mandated services and critical implications and disparities for the experiences of LEP families who become involved with DCF.
Framework for Considering the Best Interests of Unaccompanied Children
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights (May 2016)
This document provides a framework for how immigration officials could consider the best interests of unaccompanied children throughout their decision-making continuum from apprehension to placement to release and repatriation.
Correcting Course: Restoring the critical protection of placement in licensed facilities for children in federal immigration custody
Neha Desai, Emma McGinn, & Laura Alvarez; National Center for Youth Law (April 2023)
This briefing explores the erosion of state child welfare licensing procedures for facilities that house unaccompanied minors and offers recommendations to restore important protections.
The Migrant Families Separated Under Trump Are Still in Legal Limbo
Isabela Dias, Mother Jones (February 27, 2024)
This article reviews the history and impact of the Trump era Zero Tolerance Policy, which resulted in the separation of over 5,000 children, 1,000 of whom had yet to be reunited as of November 2023.
Ken Paxton’s Annunciation House investigation is the latest attack on religious organizations aiding migrants at the border
Uriel J. García & William Melhado, The Texas Tribune (February 29, 2024)
The Texas Attorney General launched an investigation into Annunciation House, a nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid to migrants, accusing it of engaging in human smuggling and operating a stash house.
Flores Counsel takes action to address the harm children are experiencing at open air detention sites
Layne Mullett, American Friends Service Committee (March 1, 2024)
Several advocacy organizations have submitted a court filing calling for an end to the use of open air detention sites for children.
How migrants navigate the complicated journey from Venezuela to metro schools
Lucas Brady Woods, Sentinel (March 5, 2024)
Newly arrived migrant families in Denver face the challenges of navigating the local school systems.
Thousands of unaccompanied children make a dangerous trek to the U.S. southern border
Amna Nawaz, Christine Romo, Sam Weber & Layla Quran; PBS News Hour (March 13, 2024)
A group of sisters share their story as some of the tens of thousands of unaccompanied children making the dangerous journey to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Greensboro facility for unaccompanied immigrant children set to be operational
DJ Simmons, WFDD (March 14, 2024)
A new influx care facility for unaccompanied immigrant children in Greensboro, NC, with a capacity of up to 800 beds, is set to be operational mid March.
Some immigrant households fear missing out on college financial aid
Bella Adrete & Sara Ruberg, NBC News (March 16, 2024)
Many immigrant families face missing out on financial aid for their children’s college due to glitches in the new FAFSA application process, including having to provide an SSN.
Immigrant children need mental health care too
Tran T. Doan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (March 20, 2024)
Children of immigrants face unique trauma and mental health challenges that require a tailored, culturally sensitive response.
What to know about SB 4, the Texas immigration law in the courts now
Becky Sullivan, NPR (March 20, 2024)
Texas Senate Bill 4 would allow state and local law enforcement enforce immigration law.
Immigrant families on edge amid uncertainty over new Texas law
Carlos Nogueras Ramos, The Texas Tribune (March 21, 2024)
Immigrant families in Texas live in uncertainty as SB4 limbos in a back and forth of court rulings and appeals.
Connecting Immigrant Communities to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Services
Migration Policy Institute • April 5, 2024 • 10amPT/1pmET
This webinar will discuss the importance of infant and early childhood mental-health services for immigrant children and families and highlight approaches for connecting immigrant and refugee families with these services.
New CICW Legal Network
The CICW is launching a new professional network for legal practitioners, judicial decision makers, and court administrators interested in meaningfully addressing the legal needs of immigrant children, parents, and families involved in state child welfare systems. Click the link above for more info and click here to join.
Through Iceboxes and Kennels: How Immigration Detention Harms Children and Families
Luis Zayas, Oxford University Press (May 2023)
This book reviews the history and politics of immigration enforcement and detention centers operated by private prison companies, featuring the stories of children and parents and highlighting the negatives impacts to children’s growth and development.
An examination of child welfare agency models that serve immigrant children and families
Kristina K. Lovato, Megan Finno-Velasquez, Sophia Sepp, Effie Clayton & Kelechi Chinyere Wright; Journal of Public Child Welfare (March 18, 2024)
This study examined child welfare system models for serving immigrant children and families. Findings highlight the importance of specialization of immigrant-related knowledge and skill sets, relationships with consulates and external stakeholders, and innovative engagement approaches.
