Across the United States, Latin America, and Europe, KIND works to ensure unaccompanied and separated children have access to the legal protection they need to navigate complex immigration, asylum, and child protection systems.
By combining direct representation, pro bono partnerships, legal education, and capacity strengthening, KIND helps protect the rights of unaccompanied and separated children and works to ensure they have meaningful access to justice wherever they are.
In the United States we provide direct legal representation to children through our dedicated staff and in partnership with a global network of more than 850 law firms, corporations, law schools, and bar associations that provide pro bono legal services. Our experienced attorneys train, mentor, and support volunteer legal partners throughout every stage of a child’s case, helping ensure children receive high-quality legal representation.
Across Europe, KIND works with local partners to help displaced and unaccompanied children understand their rights and navigate complex asylum and child protection systems. Through Know Your Rights presentations, legal orientations, and community outreach, we equip children and their caregivers with the information they need to access protection, make informed decisions, and connect with available legal services and support.
In Mexico and across Latin America, KIND collaborates with community organizations and local partners to expand access to legal information for children and families on the move. Through Know Your Rights presentations, legal education, and outreach initiatives, we help children understand their rights, available protection pathways, and legal options while connecting them to services that promote their safety and well-being.
Litigation
When children's rights are threatened, litigation can be a powerful tool to drive systemic change. KIND uses strategic litigation to challenge unlawful policies and practices, defend the rights of unaccompanied and separated children, and strengthen legal protections that benefit children beyond individual cases. Working alongside pro bono partners, legal advocates, and coalition organizations, KIND brings and supports cases that address barriers to safety, due process, family unity, and access to protection. Our litigation seeks not only to secure justice for individual children, but also to establish legal precedents that improve policies and practices for children across jurisdictions.
KIND helps immigrant and refugee children who come to the United States without a parent or legal guardian. Most are fleeing pervasive narco-trafficking, human trafficking, and gang violence from which their governments cannot or will not protect them. Others are fleeing severe abuse including sexual and gender-based violence, which includes rape, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and forced or early marriage. A number have been abandoned or have lost their caregivers. The children range in age from toddlers to teenagers.
In the United States, immigration judges are 100 times more likely to grant legal relief to unaccompanied children with counsel than to those without. Without a fair chance to make their case, children who need and deserve protection can be sent back to grave harm.
KIND partners with law firms, corporation, bar associations, and law schools which agree to represent children referred to us at no cost. KIND provides training and mentorship–no immigration experience is necessary. KIND’s social services coordinators help children referred to us with their non-legal needs, including counseling and school enrollment.
Whether or not you have legal expertise, you can help ensure the rights of unaccompanied children are protected.
Learn how you can get involved and support KIND.
