April 1, 2021
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)* submitted its first-ever amicus brief to Mexico’s Supreme Court to support a filing by the Office for the Defense of Children (ODI) on behalf of an unaccompanied child seeking asylum in Mexico who was denied his basic rights as a child migrant. The adolescent was fleeing family violence and forced gang recruitment in Honduras and seeking protection in Mexico. The child protection officers in Mexico did not properly follow protection procedures required by law to ensure children’s wellbeing and care. They also failed in conducting the required best interests determination and failed in guaranteeing his right to integrity, safety and access to a fair asylum procedure, where they also omitted to provide a qualify and effective access and assistance to an attorney.
