October 8, 2024
Fifteen years ago, when a team of seven came together working out of a small office at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, we knew unaccompanied children needed trained attorneys to help them navigate the U.S. immigration system. We knew these children needed support throughout their migration journey and that we could not truly protect them if we did not also work to tackle the immigration policies that failed them. This is why, together, we have led Kids in Need of Defense for the past 15 years. There was a lot of hope when we founded KIND in 2008. Congress enacted the TVPRA, codifying the laws that continue to guide our work today. That was also the last time that Congress passed any significant changes to our immigration laws. There is not a day that goes by that we do not appreciate the Washington leaders in office at that time, who understood how essential it is to see past party lines, work together on a bipartisan basis, and protect children in search of safety.
Today, KIND’s footprint looks quite different than it did 15 years ago. We have nearly 550 employees spread across 16 offices throughout the United States. We work in Mexico, Central America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. The partnerships we formed—more than 850 pro bono partners, more than 10,000 pro bono attorneys, and tens of thousands of donors, advocates, and allies that joined us since those earliest
days—make KIND an international leader in protecting children and keeping families together. We bring our expertise to bear not just in legal representation, but also in holistic psychosocial support, advocacy, and communications.
Today, we rededicate ourselves to protecting unaccompanied children and the serious work that lies ahead. We are closer than ever to implementing specialized children’s dockets in immigration court that ensure that children receive due process that is child centered. We worked against the rollback of antitrafficking protections, urging Congress to embrace reforms that build upon, rather than tear down, existing protections. We helped ensure the appropriate care of children in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody. We rallied support to families torn apart by the Zero Tolerance Policy.
As you read this Impact Report, you will see how much the KIND community has accomplished on behalf of unaccompanied and separated children through the years. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, we made a profound difference in the lives of so many children. And with your continued support, we will continue to make sure these children have futures filled with hope, safety, and possibility.
Cover Photo: La Carretera [The Highway] by KIND Client, Robin