CortMuses

A 13-year-old Honduran boy named Angel did not have representation when he appeared before a judge. A judge asked if there was a reason he could not return to Honduras. Angel told the judge, ‘My mom and almost my entire family are here. It’s too dangerous to go back.’ The judge ruled that Angel did not qualify for asylum and asked, 'Would you like to request voluntary departure, or should I issue a removal order?’ ‘I don’t know,’ Angel replied before bursting into tears. He stared ahead stoically before continuing to cry and said, ‘I have no one. I have nothing.’ This is not a choice a child should be given, but it's the unfortunate experience of many migrant children. Texas, migrant children as young as 2 years old are appearing in U.S. immigration courts, where they face deportation proceedings without guaranteed legal representation. Witnesses inside the courtrooms describe a 6-year-old pretending to fly an airplane. Mateo, a 3-year-old in a blue jacket, is playing with the microphone. The judge spoke to Mateo’s attorney, who appeared remotely. A teen girl tried to make eye contact with a friend, only for the judge to reprimand her: ‘I see you’re smiling and think these proceedings are funny, but I need you to pay attention.’ In July, the Trump admin let a years-long contract with the Acacia Center for Justice lapse, ending federal funding for 100 legal services providers for more than 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children: Children who are usually in the United States are trying to escape trafficking, abandonment, violence, gangs, or other ab*se. In August, the Office of Refugee Resettlement gave $20 million to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a nonprofit organization that provides legal services. However, many advocates say USCRI lawyers either weren’t present or didn’t speak up when children were in court. In some cases, USCRI attorneys even posed as ‘friend of the court’ for some of the children, including Angel, according to Lauren Fisher Flores, legal director at ProBar. And now, the Trump administration will allow lawyers to start requesting virtual interviews for kids seeking asylum. Children have to make their cases to receive asylum, and since procedures are also constantly changing, this can put extra stress on children. The interviews can take hours and dive into potentially traumatic events. And without a lawyer, kids may have to face this trauma alone. Under Trump, they’re being pushed through faster hearings and asylum interviews without adequate legal counsel, which makes it harder for them to seek asylum and other protections under the law. The goal is to deport more children faster. Attorneys representing migrant children initially try to establish a rapport with their clients and help them understand what to expect in asylum interviews. But children are struggling to understand, as many of them aren’t able to speak English, let alone understand complex legal terms. So kids are being asked to make choices about their cases when they may not fully understand what those choices mean. In an interview with a 3-year-old, who was too small to fit in the chair and ended up sitting on the floor. The child put bandages on the furniture and played with dinosaurs while the asylum officer tried to ask the child questions about their case. A judge asked a group of 15 minors without attorneys: ‘Is this your first time in immigration court?’ They all answered, ‘Yes.’ ‘Do any of you want voluntary departure?’ the judge asked. No one raised their hand. Another child stretched her hands playfully toward the sky. The initiative comes under the direction of White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, so that the Trump admin can deport as many migrant children as possible as quickly as possible. Nearly 200,000 migrant children have been ordered removed from the U.S. since Trump returned to office, according to The Guardian. About 70% were younger than 13. This is the supposed pro-life party, making kids face legal challenges alone and sending them back to danger in the country they were trying to escape.

HELL NO. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? If Schumer thinks Trump is someone Dems can work with after all the pain, suffering, and even death he’s caused, he’s delusional. We want accountability and an end to his corruption. Not more weakness. QUESTION: How are you going to deal with Trump? Can you actually work with Trump? CHUCK SCHUMER: Look, it’ll be up to him.

🔥There will be so many beautiful stories like this today Keisha winning last night was no small thing.