The immigration policy promoted by the Trump administration is once again at the center of the debate after it was revealed that the immigration processes are being accelerated. deportation of immigrant children in federal custody. The measure, which seeks to streamline the system, has raised alarm bells among lawyers and human rights organizations due to its possible consequences on one of the most vulnerable populations.
According to information published by cnnimmigration hearings—key to determining whether a minor can remain in the country—are being brought forward by weeks and even months. This change significantly reduces the time available for lawyers to prepare protection cases, such as applications for asylum or special status for minors.
The impact is tangible
Children as young as four or five years old are repeatedly appearing in courtin some cases without real representation. “They are confused, scared and frustrated,” explained Scott Bassett of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights. The pressure is such that, according to testimonies collected by defenders, some minors present physical stress reactions during the hearings.
The situation is worsening in states like Texas, where dozens of cases have been abruptly rescheduled. Emily Norman, regional director of Children in Need of Protectionreported that hearings scheduled for later years were brought forward to a matter of days. These types of decisions, he warns, seriously compromise the defense capacity of minors.
From the government, the vision is different
Andrew Nixon spokesman for the Department of Smartly Being and Human Companiesassured the aforementioned media that the objective is “to resolve the cases as quickly and efficiently as possible, in accordance with the law.” As he explained, Streamlining processes would also protect minors from trafficking networks. and reduce stay times in detention centers.
However, experts question this approach. For many, the speed could translate into hasty decisions that lead to deportations without a complete analysis of each case. “The goal is to get these kids out of the country,” Bassett said. “They feel like the walls are coming down on them.””.
At the moment, More than 2,000 immigrant children remain in government custodymany of them for months. The average stay is more than seven months, according to recent federal data. Added to this is the increasing difficulty for minors to be delivered to relatives or sponsors in the United States, which prolongs their uncertainty.
Another key ingredient is the impact on legal processes. Obtain protection figures such as juvenile immigrant status —aimed at minors who have suffered abuse or neglect—can take months; The new deadlines make it almost impossible to complete these procedures on time.
“When you work with children who have experienced trauma, you need time to build trust and understand their stories,” explained Alexa Sendukas, a lawyer specialized in representing immigrant minors. Without that time, she warns, the system runs the risk of failing in its most basic function: guaranteeing justice.
White House officials have stressed the need to “dismantle criminal networks” and return minors to their countries of origin. However, for those who work directly with these children, the reality is more complex: behind each case there are stories of violence, poverty or abandonment that cannot be resolved in expedited hearings.
Given the tightening of immigration policies, experts in the field have raised doubts about whether the system, focused on speed, will guarantee the protection of the most vulnerable immigrants.
Keep reading:
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- NGO warns about thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children whose whereabouts are unknown
