ICE Arrests at Courthouses Nationwide: A Fundamental Attack on the Protection of Vulnerable Children

May 30, 2025

Washington, D.C.

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) has grave concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s arrests of those appearing for their immigration hearings at courthouses across the country. These actions assail due process while thwarting the administration’s own stated goal of ensuring that children and other individuals meet immigration court obligations.  KIND President Wendy Young issued the following statement in response: 

“The arrests of immigrants at courthouses as they appear for their immigration court hearings as required by the U.S. immigration process not only run counter to basic principles of fairness but also undermine the immigration system as a whole. Arresting those who are following the rules creates a chilling effect that will deter others from attending their hearings, driving them into the shadows, which is in no one’s interests. If children and their caregivers fear going to court or otherwise participating in the immigration system, it becomes substantially more difficult to identify and appropriately adjudicate cases of children with pressing protection needs as well as of children who may not qualify for humanitarian relief under U.S. law. While the administration has rightly expressed concern about the risks of trafficking and exploitation faced by unaccompanied children, turning the courts into venues for law enforcement action only exacerbates those risks as children will be afraid to appear for hearings that, when properly administered, can serve as valuable touchpoints for identifying and addressing trafficking indicators. Ultimately, these arrests are attacks on the core of the immigration system and the foundations upon which it, and this country, were built.”

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Media Contact: Megan McKenna, mmckenna@supportkind.org, 202-631-9990