Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

The administration has been forced to restore legal funding for unaccompanied children, but that lifeline is already under threat. A new House proposal would gut protections and impose outrageous fees on children and the families who try to care for them. This is a direct attack on children's safety. As KIND's Jen Podkul told NBC News, "This bill would make the government responsible for putting children in even more compromised and dangerous conditions." Congress must reject any budget that eliminates critical protections for unaccompanied children. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e9nnjveg Take action: https://lnkd.in/e8quYRMT

‼️The text of the House budget reconciliation paints a catastrophic future for unaccompanied children—stripping away any meaningful avenue for seeking safety in the United States while dramatically elevating these children’s vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation. This leaves thousands of unaccompanied children in unprecedented danger. Contact your member of Congress now and demand that they REJECT this measure and embrace reforms that build upon crucial protections that keep children safe. Take action now: https://lnkd.in/e8quYRMT

They carry grief, fear, uncertainty, sometimes all at once. Unaccompanied children are often fleeing violence, danger and other grave harm, only to face new challenges navigating a complex legal system alone. But so is psychosocial care, the emotional support that helps children begin to heal. This #MentalHealthMonth, we’re reminding decision makers that protecting children means treating them as children. It means making space for their healing, dignity, and hope. Learn more about our psychosocial efforts: https://lnkd.in/gv7vWAeu

🚨The House Judiciary Committee is proposing policies that would strip protections for unaccompanied children. These proposals would dismantle decades of bipartisan safeguards and put children at risk of trafficking, exploitation and abuse. This is not protection. This is punishment. “This bill not only makes it virtually impossible for children to access protection in the United States, but it would make the government responsible for putting children in even more compromised and dangerous conditions,” - KIND's Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy Jen Podkul. Our full statement: https://lnkd.in/ea-v2xsm

In her powerful novel, author Jenny Torres Sanchez captures the heartbreak, danger, and resilience of unaccompanied children fleeing violence in search of safety. In an interview with KIND, she shares what inspired her to write their stories and why listening matters now more than ever. "These stories are not easy to tell, but they are of utmost importance to tell." Read full interview: https://lnkd.in/eSy6_3_y

In a time when unaccompanied children are facing mounting challenges, this moment meant more than we can put into words. Over the past eight weeks, elementary school students took part in a program that teaches them what it means to give back--to listen, learn and take action on the issues that matter to them. At the end of the program, they chose one nonprofit to support. This year, they chose KIND. We were invited to accept the award from children in Montgomery County who advocated for us. Their understanding of the challenges immigrant children face and their decision to uplift that work moved us. To everyone who supports this work—thank you. Your commitment doesn’t go unnoticed. It shapes what’s possible, not just for the children we serve, but for the communities they’re part of. These students saw that, and they responded. #TGS #KidsForKidsFund The Giving Square

"Where would I be without my lawyer? I don’t know. That’s why I’m always grateful.” At just 15, Axell left behind the violence of Honduras, hoping for a safer future. He found it, but dreams alone aren’t enough to survive a complex legal system built for adults. Because of his KIND attorney, Axell didn’t just survive. He thrived, graduating in the top 30 of his class and building a future he once thought impossible. Every child deserves a fighting chance. Every child deserves legal protection. Read his full story: https://lnkd.in/eZrcWMrq

CNN's latest report shows the harsh reality: unaccompanied children, some as young as toddlers, are expected to face immigration court alone. This video underscores what's at stake when legal protections disappear, and children are left to face the unimaginable. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/esvGyF9E

A 4-year-old stood in NYC immigration court, alone, clutching a pink plushy toy. She’s one of thousands of unaccompanied children expected to navigate a system built for adults. This isn't justice. It's cruelty. No child should face immigration court alone. Urge your senators to support the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act, a bill that would ensure legal representation to children. Read more at Gothamist: https://lnkd.in/dZDQYMMK Take action: https://lnkd.in/e9gghfnB

🚨A message to our supporters: The sudden termination of federal funding for legal services has placed thousands of unaccompanied children at risk of facing immigration court alone. For over 15 years, this funding has helped KIND represent children fleeing trafficking, violence, and exploitation. Its loss has forced us to make program adjustments--reducing staff, closing brick-and-mortar offices, and restructuring how we work. But our commitment has not changed. We are adjusting our model to meet our mission. With the help of our pro bono partners, we're continuing to serve the children we can. We're also expanding programs that protect children from labor exploitation and trafficking and strengthening our return and reintegration work to ensure that children are not sent back into harm. This is not the end of our work. It's a shift in how we carry it forward. Unaccompanied children still need protection. KIND will be here to fight for them. Our full statement. https://lnkd.in/ets4r_KK