As Unaccompanied Minors Across Nation Face Unequal Access to Attorneys, New York City Council Unaccompanied Minors Initiative Ensures Every Single Child Free Access To Legal Representation and Critical Social Services<\/p>\n
Initiative Has Trained 5,000 Lawyers and Volunteers, Screened Over 1,600 Immigrants, Taken on 648 Cases And Won 14 Asylums Petitions To Date<\/p>\n
Speaker Mark-Viverito: \u201cNew York City Stepped Up And Resolved The Unaccompanied Minors Representation Crisis Here – Now It\u2019s Time For Others to Follow\u201d<\/p>\n
NEW YORK – One year after calling for New York City to step up and \u201crespond to the humanitarian crisis we have before us,\u201d Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced today that the New York City Council Unaccompanied Minors Initiative is successfully providing attorneys for every minor who arrives in New York City. To date, the Initiative has taken on 648 cases directly, screened over 1,600 immigrants and won 14 asylum cases ensures that every child who makes it to New York City has access to an attorney. The Unaccompanied Minors Initiative is a public-private partnership between the New York City Council, which provided $1 million in Fiscal Year 2015, and the Robin Hood Foundation and the New York Community Trust who together contributed $900,000. In Fiscal Year 2016, the City Council allocated an additional $1.5 million for the Initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew York City stepped and resolved the unaccompanied minors representation crisis here- now it\u2019s time for others to follow. There is no excuse for failing these vulnerable children,\u201d said Speaker Mark-Viverito. \u201cOne year ago, we said we had an obligation to help these children who flee unspeakable violence and today I am proud to announce that we have. Too many children who escaped horrific conditions are facing unequal access to lawyers across the country.”<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re proud to lead the nation in welcoming these hopeful young people to our city. By getting them legal help, we\u2019re protecting their rights and opening a path for those who stay to become productive New Yorkers,\u201d said Shawn Morehead, said Shawn Morehead, Senior Program Officer of The New York Community Trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobin Hood has long supported New York City\u2019s strongest nonprofits in service of our most marginalized neighbors. Providing quality legal counsel to these children fleeing extraordinary violence is the first step to ensuring they can live successful lives, out of poverty, in their new home. The early results of this model are proving that an effective intervention, can indeed save lives. It is a pleasure for Robin Hood to partner with Speaker Mark – Viverito on this important program,\u201d said Eric Weingartner, Managing Director of Robin Hood. <\/p>\n
According to data from Transactional Records Access Clearing House, 91% of children in removal proceedings without a lawyer are deported. However, only 22% of children with lawyers during proceedings are deported. Overall, it is estimated that two of every three children are eligible for either Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or asylum. Through the City Council\u2019s Unaccompanied Minors Initiative, all children who make their way to New York City have free access to legal representation and justice.<\/p>\n
Legal and social services for the Unaccompanied Minors Initiative are provided by Catholic Charities Community Service of the Archdiocese of New York (CCCS), The Door, Legal Aid, Make the Road, Central American Legal Assistance (CALA), Kids in Need of Defense, Atlas: DIY and the Safe Passage Project at New York Law School. In total, the Initiative has helped fund training and mentoring for more than 5,000 attorneys and student volunteers over 60 training sessions. <\/p>\n
The providers offer the following services:<\/p>\n
Know Your Rights Orientations: CCCS staff has conducted more than 100 Know Your Rights orientations, in which children and their parents or custodians are trained and prepared for upcoming legal proceedings. This is done in Spanish and English. Non-New York City children are referred to legal services in their communities. During orientations, those eligible are encouraged to sign up for IDNYC.<\/p>\n
Individualized Legal Screenings: Providers have screened more than 1,600 unaccompanied children along with follow-up consultations. The screenings are conducted by volunteer attorneys and law students in Spanish and English.<\/p>\n
Full Representation Cases: Full representation is provided by staff attorneys of CCCS, The Door, Legal Aid, Make the Road and CALA. The Safe Passage Project has also created a program to recruit and train volunteer attorneys and law students for cases on a pro bono basis.<\/p>\n
Outcomes As Of June 30, 2015<\/p>\n
Petitions filed in Family Court 159
\nFamily Court Petitions Granted 40
\nI-360 Applications Filed 20
\nSIJS Granted 3
\nApplications Filed with Asylum 55
\nAsylum Applications Granted 14
\nAdmin Closure Filing 6
\nAdmin Closure Granted 4
\nReferrals to Education 36
\nReferrals to Health 127
\nReferrals to Mental Health 163<\/p>\n
\u201cUnaccompanied minors are among our most vulnerable populations, and I\u2019d like to congratulate Speaker Mark-Viverito and the participating organizations on a successful first year implementing this initiative on their behalf. Access to legal services is critical for youth facing deportation, and I know this effort has made and will continue to make a major difference for them,\u201d said Council Member Antonio Reynoso.<\/p>\n
“Giving unaccompanied minors an equal opportunity to remain and succeed in the only country they call home is a human right and an initiative this Council is proud to support,” said Council Member Julissa Ferreras. “The Unaccompanied Minors Initiative exist because we recognize that young immigrants are the future of our city and that we need to nurture them to become leaders,\u201d said Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland.<\/p>\n
“Last year, in the midst of a real humanitarian crisis, this Council stood up and by the side of young people from all over the world who were looking to us for safety and leadership. I am proud to have been a leader on the effort, to chair the committee that heard compelling and devastating testimony, and to help oversee the use of the dollars we allocated. It is a pleasure to one year later see some of the affected young people enrolled in school, reconnected with loved ones, and on their way to success. I applaud the efforts of our Speaker and of the advocates who spoke up. I hope we can continue to recommit to ending the circumstances that would allow for children to end up in those dark days again,” said Carlos Menchaca, Chair of Committee on Immigration.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s an honor to stand with Speaker Mark-Viverito and my fellow council members to celebrate the success of the Unaccompanied Minors Initiative. We\u2019ve seen the incredible impact this funding had on the lives of so many vulnerable children and teens and proud that the council increased funding for this important work in the FY16 budget. No child should have to navigate the court system alone\u2014and this initiative ensures that all unaccompanied minors will continue to have access to the legal help and guidance they need,\u201d stated Council Member Rafael L. Espinal, Jr.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are lucky to live in a City that understands the critical need for legal representation and is willing to work with us to respond quickly when a crisis arises,\u201d said Steven Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition. \u201cThere are no more vulnerable individuals than refugee children. When they came to our door asking for help, our city’s leadership responded with compassion and urgency and made us all proud to be New Yorkers. We look forward to continuing our work with Speaker Mark-Viverito and the entire City Council to ensure that this good work lives on for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor an unaccompanied immigrant child, the ability to access essential legal services can make the difference between a grim future and a bright, hopeful path of opportunity. The much-needed growth of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s Unaccompanied Minors Initiative cements New York City’s position as a national leader in fairness and justice for these vulnerable young people. Para un ni\u00f1o inmigrante no acompa\u00f1ado, la habilidad de obtener servicios legales esenciales puede hacer la diferencia entre un futuro oscuro y un camino luminoso, lleno de oportunidades. El crecimiento de la Iniciativa de menores no acompa\u00f1ados de la Portavoz Melissa Mark-Viverito asegura la posici\u00f3n de la ciudad de Nueva York como un l\u00edder nacional en la equidad y la justicia para estos j\u00f3venes vulnerables,\u201d said Theo Oshiro, Deputy Director of Make the Road New York.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Speaker’s efforts to make sure young people fleeing violence in Central America have legal representation stands in stark contrast to the immigrant-bashing going on in some quarters and she and the Council are to be commended, \u201c said Anne Pilsbury, Director of Central American Legal Assistance<\/p>\n
PRESIDENTA MARK-VIVERITO Y EL CONCEJO MUNICIPAL DE NUEVA YORK: LA CRISIS DE FALTA DE REPRESENTACION PARA MENORES NO ACOMPANADOS SE HA TERMINADO EN NYC <\/p>\n
Mientas menores no acompa\u00f1ados a trav\u00e9s del pa\u00eds no tienen acceso igual a abogados, la Iniciativa del Concejo Municipal de la Ciudad de Nueva York para Menores No Acompa\u00f1ados asegura que cada ni\u00f1o tenga acceso gratuito a representaci\u00f3n legal y a servicios sociales <\/p>\n
La iniciativa ha entrenado a 5,000 abogados y voluntarios, ha evaluado 1,600 casos, ha representado a 648 personas y se han ganado 14 peticiones de asilos<\/p>\n
Presidenta Mark-Viverito: \u201cLa Ciudad de Nueva York ha hecho su parte y ha resuelto la crisis de falta de representaci\u00f3n para menores no acompa\u00f1ados aqu\u00ed \u2013 es hora de que otros sigan este ejemplo\u201d.<\/p>\n
NUEVA YORK \u2013 Un a\u00f1o tras hacer un llamado para que la Ciudad de Nueva York \u201crespondiera a la crisis humanitaria que tenemos ante nosotros\u201d, la Presidenta Melissa Mark-Viverito anunci\u00f3 hoy que la Iniciativa del Concejo Municipal de la Ciudad de Nueva York para Menores No Acompa\u00f1ados est\u00e1 proveyendo exitosamente abogados gratuitos para cada menor que llega a la Ciudad de Nueva York. Al d\u00eda de hoy, la Iniciativa ha tomado 648 casos directamente, ha evaluado 1,600 casos de inmigrantes y ha Ganado 14 peticiones de asilo. Esto asegura que cada ni\u00f1o que llega a la Ciudad de Nueva York tenga acceso a un abogado. La Iniciativa para Menores No Acompa\u00f1ados es una alianza p\u00fablica-privada entre el Concejo Municipal de Nueva York, que provey\u00f3 $1 mill\u00f3n en el a\u00f1o fiscal 2015, y la Fundaci\u00f3n Robin Hood y el Fondo Comunitario de Nueva York que conjuntamente contribuyeron $900,000. En el a\u00f1o fiscal 2016, el Concejo Municipal otorg\u00f3 $1.5 millones adicionales para la Iniciativa.<\/p>\n
\u201cLa Ciudad de Nueva York ha hecho su parte y resolvi\u00f3 la crisis de y ha resuelto la crisis de falta de representaci\u00f3n para menores no acompa\u00f1ados aqu\u00ed \u2013 es hora de que otros sigan este ejemplo. No hay excusa para fallarle a estos ni\u00f1os vulnerables,\u201d dijo la Presidenta Mark-Viverito. \u201cUn a\u00f1o atr\u00e1s dije que ten\u00edamos una obligaci\u00f3n de ayudar a estos ni\u00f1os que huyen de violencia inimaginable y hoy me siento orgullosa de decir que lo hemos hecho. Demasiados ni\u00f1os que escapan de horribles condiciones est\u00e1n teniendo acceso desigual a abogados a trav\u00e9s del pa\u00eds\u201d.<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As Unaccompanied Minors Across Nation Face Unequal Access to Attorneys, New York City Council Unaccompanied Minors Initiative Ensures Every Single Child Free Access To Legal Representation and Critical Social Services<\/p>\n
Initiative Has Trained 5,000 Lawyers and Volunteers, Screened Over 1,600 Immigrants, Taken on 648 Cases And Won 14 Asylums Petitions To Date<\/p>\n
Speaker Mark-Viverito: \u201cNew York City Stepped Up And Resolved The Unaccompanied Minors Representation Crisis Here –<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n