North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) has joined senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), as well as representatives Dan Goldman (D-NY), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) to introduce legislation that tackles the backlog in Immigration Courts and strengthens the due process rights of unaccompanied migrant children.

The "Efficiency in Immigration Courts and Children's Courts Act" (H.R. 6145) is a sensible proposal aimed at bolstering the due process for vulnerable children and addressing the case backlog in immigration courts. The legislation would establish a Children's Court within the Executive Office for Immigration Review, focused on adjudicating proceedings for unaccompanied children facing deportation.

"Children are often the biggest victims of our broken immigration system," said Congresswoman Salazar. "We must make an extra effort to meet the needs of children, while also streamlining the procedures in Immigration Courts and making our courts more efficient. I am proud to co-sponsor the Efficiency in Immigration Courts and Children's Courts Act to improve outcomes for children, families, and the American people in our overcrowded Immigration Courts. And, most importantly, to keep them safe."

Unaccompanied migrant children face unique obstacles as they navigate the complex U.S. immigration system. After being placed in deportation proceedings, many unaccompanied children appear alone before an immigration judge. Children's cases are legally complex and often take longer to be addressed than adult cases. As a result, there are over 62,000 pending cases for these children in the United States.

The newly established Children's Court would require the following:

Specially Trained Personnel: Judges in the Children's Court would receive specialized training in child trafficking, trauma-informed practices, and case management tools.

Child Participation Protocols: The Children's Court would ensure that children can easily attend court, actively participate in the process, and fully understand their rights to overcome typical challenges in children's proceedings. The bill would require the court to use age-appropriate procedures to ensure children understand the proceedings, are treated appropriately based on their stage of development, and have sufficient time to obtain legal counsel.

Coordination with Legal Service Organizations: Legal service organizations would coordinate with the court to assist children with accessing legal assessment and immigration proceedings simultaneously and in the same location, ensuring that children receive advice more quickly and efficiently. This approach reduces unnecessary court time and can prevent procedural delays.

This legislation is supported by 41 organizations, including World Relief, National Immigration Forum, Church World Service, Women's Refugee Commission, American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, and Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN).

The text of the law is available HERE. A summary of the law in both English and Spanish is available HERE.

Click this link to access more information: https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresista-salazar-se-une-proyecto-de-ley-para-proteger-los-ninos-migrantes-y