How to Support Organizations Working on the Ground to Help Child Migrant Detainees — With More Than Just Money
Since Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Trump administration’s “Zero Tolerance” policy for illegal immigration, making way for the human rights violation of migrant family separation, many have sought out ways to help immigrant children who have been removed from their parents. In addition to the many charities working to help reunite immigrant children with their families, there are also a number of groups working hard on the ground to not only get this barbaric practice overturned, but to help reunite children with their parents before they get lost in the system.
And you don’t only have to donate cash, even though it’s still definitely needed — if you’re a lawyer, a medical professional, or otherwise able to volunteer your time, and are in or can get specifically to Texas (one of the states with the greatest concentration of detention centers) here are some of the organizations that need your help now.
Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project works to help stop deportation of asylum seekers in the US. They are currently looking for volunteers across the country. You can register to volunteer directly on their website.
South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project is providing free legal services to asylum seekers. If you know of families in need of help, you can connect them to this legal aid group.
Tahirih Justice Center is providing free legal support to women and girls fleeing domestic violence, a group of asylum seekers the Trump administration has just disempowered from seeking refuge in the US.
CARA Project is actively seeking lawyers, paralegals, and law students who understand immigration law and have worked with asylum seekers to help. Spanish language skills are a must.
Kids In Need of Defense need volunteers to help with a number of tasks. You don’t need a legal background to volunteer.
The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights needs more child advocates to visit the immigrant kids inside the detention centers weekly and accompany them to immigration proceedings because they have been separated from their parents and need adult accompaniment.
American Gateways need legal volunteers to help represent parents separated from their children during legal proceedings.
Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley take in people released by ICE and need support from volunteers as well as financial assistance.
Comfort Cases need financial assistance and supplies to provide to detained children. The group aims to give the children backpacks filled with essentials they are not being given by ICE, such as blankets, pajamas, toiletries, a stuffed animal, a book, a journal and art supplies.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service need money to give immigrant children shelter beds, psychological support, food and medical care.
The Austin Bar Association Civil Right and Immigration Section needs help coordinating training for pro bono attorneys to handle credible fear interviews for asylum seekers.
(Photo via John Moore/Getty Images)