Bending the Arc

Congress has before it bipartisan, commonsense legislation poised to better support and protect unaccompanied migrant children entering the U.S. while simultaneously helping to address the enormous immigration court backlog. 

Unaccompanied migrant children should not be left to navigate a bewildering and complex U.S. immigration system designed for adults, most having made the arduous journey to this country to escape poverty and violence. This situation leaves them vulnerable to human trafficking and other dangers.

Immigration Court Efficiency and Children’s Court Act (H.R. 6145/S.3178)

H.R. 6145/S. 3178 would create a more child-friendly environment in which unaccompanied migrant children are more likely to receive due process and better oversight, while simultaneously relieving strain on the U.S. immigration court system by grouping similar cases and streamlining the handling of pending cases of children awaiting adjudication by the U.S. immigration system. The bill draws from best practices for children’s proceedings used in other judicial settings. Among the provisions, the court structure would allow for the presence of legal and social service organizations to provide a touchpoint for children so they could be better screened for and protected from human trafficking.

The Sisters of St. Agnes have a deep commitment to standing up for human dignity and protection of the vulnerable, as do other women religious communities such as the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Please take time today to contact Congress with this SSND petition and urge support for this important legislation.

In Fond du Lac, WI, your letter will automatically be sent to Senators Johnson and Baldwin and Representative Grothman, otherwise letters will automatically be sent to the state legislators in your area. Include a personal story to send a more powerful message. Once completing the survey, do not exit. You will be emailed a code to ensure it is you sending the message.