Washington, DC – Today, the Trump Administration issued a memorandum to the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security that aims to mischaracterize the immigration bar and law firm attorneys who conduct pro bono representation of immigrant clients. This step, designed to undercut access to counsel in immigration proceedings, could have a chilling effect on the contributions of the private sector legal community and immigration bar. In response, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) President Wendy Young issued the following statement:
“The protection of the most vulnerable among us, including those served by pro bono, is a longstanding and proud history in the U.S. legal community. It enables the disenfranchised to access due process and fundamental fairness in legal proceedings. KIND’s child clients, including those fleeing trafficking, exploitation, violence, natural disasters, and other dangers, have been able to access critical protection in the United States because of the immigration bar and our private sector pro bono partners’ willingness to stand with them in immigration courts across the United States. These attorneys contribute their time, expertise, and compassion as they provide lifesaving counsel for some of the most vulnerable children around the world. Their work represents the best of American values and traditions. It is undeserving of unfounded claims and threats of retribution.”
KIND is the preeminent international nongovernmental organization devoted to the protection of unaccompanied and separated children. It provides pro bono attorneys to represent unaccompanied children through their legal proceedings in collaboration with a robust network of almost 900 law firms, corporations, law schools and bar associations partners. Our dedicated team trains and mentors our volunteers throughout their cases with us.
For more information, please contact Brenda Bowser Soder at bbowsersoder@supportkind.org