With the arrival of mega master hearings at the Seattle Immigration Court this past summer, unaccompanied youth are facing new challenges, including more frequent hearing dates and hearings being rescheduled with short notice. Many young people interfacing with the immigration system are not able to bring a parent with them to their hearing, are often unrepresented, and are being given unrealistic deadlines to find an attorney.
According to one local attorney, "It's virtually impossible to go through the [court] system having the child represent themself." Mega master hearings pack cases into accelerated hearing timelines, with upwards of 100 cases being heard in one day. Mega masters are designed to expedite deportation orders. So, where does JCIJ fit into this landscape?
In recent months, JCIJ accompaniment volunteers have expanded their work to offer a new format of accompaniment designed to reach more unaccompanied youth, providing critical orientation and navigation support. This new project was initiated in partnership with Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), who reached out to JCIJ for support after the Trump administration terminated a federal contract that provided legal representation to unaccompanied children and youth.
Since launching the youth accompaniment project in late August, JCIJ has provided 16 group accompaniments with over 40 youth. Many accompaniment volunteers come prepared with snacks, games, and creative activities to help young people withstand what can often be hours long visits to the court. This project works to decrease fear and harm for youth through connection and strategic partnership with NWIRP. Crucially, the project helps reduce the barriers that unaccompanied youth may face to attending their hearings.
One JCIJ volunteer notes that “parents have expressed their deep gratitude for our work to ensure their children won't have to face a scary situation alone.”
Another volunteer shared “the volunteering I do for JCIJ is rooted in my Jewish values- that my own family has been targeted in the countries in which we have lived, and that obliges me to go out of my way to support others who are facing inhumane policies and practices. And as a mom, I cannot imagine having my own children- ages 19 and 22- go to court on their own for anything, let alone for something that could change the course of our lives. It is unconscionable that our government has cut funding to organizations that have provided legal counsel to immigrant children, and the very least we can do is explain the process, sit with them, and reassure them and their parents that they will have a kind and caring person by their side on that very stressful day.”
We would like to offer special thanks to Pat, Kathryn, and Michelle for stepping up to be part of the youth group accompaniment Logistics Team, and to the 30+ accompaniment volunteers who have trained and signed up to accompany groups of youth.