Fate for Most Kids Who Cross the Border? Staying in the US

AleiaTheEnchanted · 07-14-2014, 07:33 PM

Quote:

NEW YORK, NY -- They're here, finally, but will they get to stay? That's the life-changing question hanging over the heads of tens of thousands of young migrants who have crossed the border into the U.S.

Based on a day spent observing an immigration court in New York City, most of them can breathe a little easier: No one appears to be ordered out of the country any time soon.

Fifteen year-old Diego (not his real name) had his first hearing before a judge last week. He was with dozens of young people from mostly Central America crowded into an immigration court to fight their potential deportations. Twice a month in New York the so-called juvenile docket sees as many as 50 children or more who have fled to the U.S. hoping to stay here.

Diego arrived here in March after a two-and-a-half month journey alone from Peru. Diego’s mother died when he was just 5. He explained that he fled to America because his father had abused and then abandoned him.

“I was just out in the streets all the time,” he said, trying to avoid his father and the gang violence ravaging his neighborhood.

Now he lives in New York with a close family friend. “It’s safe and quiet here,” he said.

A small -- and very busy -- group of lawyers, most working for free, mill around the courthouse hoping to help the kids: introducing themselves, gathering basic information about their new clients in the hallways, quickly, before facing Judge Douglas Schoppert, one of several immigration judges presiding over these cases.

On this morning, most appearances lasted only a matter of minutes. After some brief judicial banter, and official business, Schoppert instructed just about every defendant to try to find a lawyer, and report back to court in February. He essentially put the “removal process,” on hold, and allowed these young migrants to get on with their new lives in America.

Diego’s attorney Merrill Clark was optimistic about his future. “He’s going to be legalized,” Clark insisted. “I haven’t lost a case like this one yet.”

Many of these minors are just a few months ahead in the process of those streaming across the border today. The Obama administration now estimates as many as 90,000 unaccompanied minors could be apprehended by the end of the fiscal year in September, and insists most of them will be sent home. But the administration also has conceded that less than 2000 child migrants are deported every year.

“The process is designed to ensure the children aren't sent back to harm,” said attorney Bryan Johnson, pausing briefly before rushing off to handle yet another case.

Some of the parents reunited with their children were in court. Tanya Meza's 8 and 9-year-old daughters arrived in the U.S. from Nicaragua last June, traveling together without a guardian. Tanya, who came here 6 years ago, had left the kids with grandparents. She’s still trying to find a lawyer who she can afford, and was relieved that a case that could end with her children being sent away had been pushed forward several months.

“They keep giving us a next date and a next date,” she said before hurrying off with her 3 children, the youngest a boy, just 5, who is the only American citizen in the family.

Immigration advocates insist many of the young people who reach New York, and other cities across America, will be here for many years, if not permanently. Lawyers say they have had success seeking one remedy in particular. It’s called a Special Immigrant Juvenile visa, or an SIJ. The SIJ falls under the laws designed to protect child victims of human trafficking, specifically, children who have been “abused, abandoned or neglected.” And advocates insist that’s exactly what’s happened to many of the minors crossing the border from Central America.

“We’re talking about desperate children,” said Eve Stotland, of The Door, a New York based non-profit aimed at empowering young people, where the legal caseload has been increasing with the surge of juveniles across the border.

“We've seen a lot of young people who've suffered horrific domestic violence," Stotland said. “If we send them back, they’ll probably try to come again…because it’s a matter of survival. It’s a matter of life and death.” She estimates the lawyers with The Door's legal services team win a Special Immigrant Juvenile visa in 80 to 90% of their cases.
Some lawyers claim the very act of a parent allowing a child to make the extremely dangerous trek from Central America, or sending them on their way, should be enough to make that child eligible to stay.

Yet, organizations like the Center for Immigration Studies, which seeks to reduce the number of immigrants settling in the U.S., insist the immigration laws dealing with minors are being exploited and too many juveniles are using them to stay in the country.

“My guess is they’re all going to stay and not go anywhere,” said communications director Marguerite Telford. In an analysis of deportations including those of minors from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, the Center found that between 2008 and 2013 the number of removals had declined significantly.

“Resettling them throughout the U.S. does not bode well for them going home,” Telford said.

Indeed, after their hearings, the kids passing through Judge Schoppert's court last week were mostly on their way back to homes in the U.S.-- not south of the border. A court officer sat at a table with dozens of case files filling up what looked like a grocery cart. A volunteer defense attorney sat at a table opposite with a translator. One by one the young people had their moments.

“Hope you enjoy the summer,” the judge often said after official business was done, as he continued the cases for months to come.

Diego said he plans to start 10th grade in September. He said he likes math and hopes someday to become a chemical engineer. His attorney has big plans for him, too.

“He will become a permanent resident and 5 years after that he can become a citizen,” Merrill Clark predicted. In other words, like many others young people crossing the border, he’s likely here to stay.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/imm...ng-u-s-n153706

Although I understand these children's situation, I was taken aback at how fast they can become a citizens when us dreamers have fought through the years to get a DACA. I find it quite unfair how these children are easily granted "citizenship" as to what the article implies.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think US government should prioritize those "children" aka DREAMERs whom are already been here and contributing to the US economy? or Should they prioritize these children instead?

MalditoDuende · 07-14-2014, 09:12 PM

I lived the life of an illegal for way too long. I do not wish it on anybody. If these kids get legalized, then I'll be happy for them.

Rogue414 · 07-14-2014, 09:33 PM

^no comment. Just BS left and right.

Sorrybrah · 07-15-2014, 01:49 AM

Good for them.

ggalicia · 07-15-2014, 01:57 AM

I agree with OP I have suffered since I was 2 years old and so did my family and siblings, its not fair for all this kids that have never contributed to this country get a free pass, I know its sad but when I was a little kid, I never tried to take advantage of the system, plus all this kids will create a big problem with chain-migration once they turn 21, while we are still going to be in DACA or in immigration limbo, they will never care for us and not help us pass a CIR. plus most of us and our parents will be second class citizens.

Pianoswithoutfaith · 07-15-2014, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggalicia

I agree with OP I have suffered since I was 2 years old and so did my family and siblings, its not fair for all this kids that have never contributed to this country get a free pass, I know its sad but when I was a little kid, I never tried to take advantage of the system, plus all this kids will create a big problem with chain-migration once they turn 21, while we are still going to be in DACA or in immigration limbo, they will never care for us and not help us pass a CIR. plus most of us and our parents will be second class citizens.

Did you mother died and you father abused you? Did you lived a life of violence? Whats this No?

Thats what the hell I thought

zone2oo0 · 07-15-2014, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoswithoutfaith

Did you mother died and you father abused you? Did you lived a life of violence? Whats this No?

Thats what the hell I thought

Thing is, most of these kids who come from those circumstances are pretty much mad. they come here and they start acting up, getting into trouble, cops and drugs...this is coming from an unified school district employee who shall rename nameless. They've had these type of cases years before they all decided to immigrate at the same time. So the bad outweigh the good. Also, they're only picking out the extraordinary circumstances. Give them some sort of probationary status, a lot of those kids take this chance for granted and don't care. Again this is coming from first hand experience. They don't even want to learn English for Gods sake. It would not be fair to US if they get status via congress.

Pianoswithoutfaith · 07-15-2014, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zone2oo0

t would not be fair to US if they get status via congress.

We want them too, don't you guys see it? With it, hopefully DACA gets on the bandwagon

zone2oo0 · 07-15-2014, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoswithoutfaith

We want them too, don't you guys see it? With it, hopefully DACA gets on the bandwagon

i also thought about that, but it is unlikely that we get status if they choose to help these kids out, they already are deporting some kids.

http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-...ry.html#page=1

DACAuser · 07-15-2014, 07:47 AM

To be honest. i want these kids reunite with their parents and deport humanely. this is one of the reason why CIR or dream act has not passed yet because people keep coming in.... And for those who oppose me....plz think about it... they are kids now. they are innocent. If you dont deport them, they could become a problem late on when they grow up such as using limit resource hospital, college financial aid.. it is no good. i just want a u.s. citizenship so i can live happy that all.
life is not fair..

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Fate for Most Kids Who Cross the Border? Staying in the US