According to federal court data collected by the Transactional Records
Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, there are more than
88,000 backlogged immigration cases that involve undocumented minor children
across the nation. Although the number of unaccompanied immigrant children
entering the U.S. has dropped, the number of backlogged cases has grown.
Immigration courts have become increasingly chaotic under the heavy burden
of the current administration’s policy changes and crackdown on
immigration enforcement. Most undocumented children have been left in
limbo. As of September, 2017, there were almost 5,000 cases in California
immigration courts pending that involve undocumented immigrants under
the age of 18. Texas has 3,245 such cases pending, and New York has 2,879
cases. All of these youth are at risk of deportation until a judge makes
a decision in their cases. About two-thirds of these minors have no attorneys
to represent them in immigration court, which puts them at a huge disadvantage
and at a much higher risk of deportation. It’s not necessarily that
the children don’t have options in terms of a legal pathway to remaining
in the U.S.; it’s more that they don’t have the knowledge
or legal assistance necessary to access that pathway. Changes in immigration
policy under the Trump administration prevent these cases from closing;
these delays make it impossible or impractical for many immigration lawyers
to take on the cases of children who need them most. While the prior administration
prioritized the cases of minor immigrant children and placed them on a
fast-track immigration court docket, the Trump administration now has
ended that practice. Undocumented immigrant children previously had to
have an immigration court hearing within 90 days; this deadline no longer exists.
Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C.
is an Oakland immigration law firm who has dedicated their practice to
protecting the interests of immigrants who are seeking to remain in the
U.S. and facing potential deportation, including minor children and adults.
We are prepared to build the strongest case possible in order to
defend you against deportation. Contact us today to set up your
legal consultation
and discover what assistance we can offer to you and your family.
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As of February 2021, we are open again and accepting in-office consultations.
If you want to know more about the Biden's Proposed Immigration Reform, watch our video!