Children's Representation Program
Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) delivers full‑scope deportation defense, legal consultations, legal education, and holistic social services to thousands of detained and non‑detained children every year. Many of these young people are navigating trauma, uncertainty, and a complex immigration system without family or support. As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit immigration law centers, ImmDef provides the critical legal help and compassionate advocacy that immigrant children need—and deserve—so they never have to face the immigration system alone.
All Children Deserve Universal Representation.
In the U.S. immigration system, no child—regardless of age—is guaranteed an attorney in immigration court. Every day, unaccompanied children are forced to stand before a judge alone while a government‑funded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prosecutor argues for their deportation. These young people are expected to navigate complex immigration and state laws by themselves, an expectation no child could ever meet. ​
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Children deserve age‑appropriate, trauma‑informed hearings and a government‑appointed immigration lawyer who will stand beside them and fight for their safety, stability, and future. Ensuring this level of support is essential to achieving true due process for children in the immigration system.
ImmDef represents unaccompanied and vulnerable children across Southern California, including Los Angeles County and underserved regions such as Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Kern Counties. Our attorneys and advocates work to ensure that no child faces the immigration system alone.
FACT: Between 2009 and 2023, 49% of unaccompanied children received no legal representation in their immigration cases.
Studies* show that children who must represent themselves face overwhelming odds: 96% of immigrants who appear in court without counsel lose their cases, making them four times more likely to be deported than those with legal representation. This is the difference representation makes—and why our mission to defend unaccompanied children is so urgent.
Reference:
*American Center for Education. (2025). When children represent themselves: The debate on unaccompanied minors in immigration court. https://ace-usa.org/blog/research/research-immigration/when-children-represent-themselves-the-debate-on-unaccompanied-minors-in-immigration-court/
Our Services
Representation For ALL At Every Step
: Since its founding, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) has been a national leader in advancing universal representation for immigrant children. Our team provides comprehensive immigration legal services and full‑scope deportation defense, representing young people before immigration court, USCIS, and California state courts.
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Every day, ImmDef helps children seeking safety in the United States apply for critical humanitarian protections—including asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and visas for survivors of crime or human trafficking. We serve every eligible child on a merits‑blind basis because no child should ever be forced to face the immigration system alone.
Our goal is simple and urgent: to ensure that fewer young people stand before an immigration judge without an experienced nonprofit immigration attorney defending their rights, safety, and future. With the support of our community, we can expand access to justice and protect more children who deserve safety, stability, and a chance to thrive.
Advocates For Detained Youth in Government Custody
The Detained Youth Empowerment Project (DYEP) supports thousands of unaccompanied children held in short‑term Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilities across Southern California. Our team provides child‑friendly education about the immigration process, advocates for the rights and safety of children in government custody, and ensures that every young person is connected to free immigration legal services upon release. This is key for unaccompanied children who may be more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
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These services are essential during one of the most traumatic and vulnerable moments in a child’s life. By offering clear information, legal protection, and compassionate advocacy, DYEP helps detained children understand their rights, access critical support, and take their first steps toward safety and stability in the United States.
Giving Children a Fighting Chance to Thrive
ImmDef’s universal representation model extends beyond the courtroom, providing holistic humanitarian support that helps children thrive while their immigration cases move forward. Our Case Management (CMA) team ensures that young people have access to essential social services, including school enrollment, health care, emergency housing, and other critical benefits.
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CMA staff also connect children with trauma‑informed counseling, emergency shelters, food banks, and community programs—from summer camps to academic resources—so every child can experience dignity, stability, and belonging while adjusting to life in a new community. This wraparound support is a vital part of ensuring that immigrant children are safe, supported, and able to heal during an incredibly vulnerable time.
