Acacia Center for Justice

Hi there 👋 We're the Acacia Center for Justice 🌱 We partner with a nationwide network of legal experts to facilitate high-quality legal services to vulnerable people facing detention or deportation. We're here to defend our communities, and we hope that you'll join us 🦋

In July, the federal govt let the contract providing legal services to children navigating the immigration system expire. Tell your members of Congress that children need independent and experienced immigration attorneys by their side ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

Americans agree: children fleeing violence, abuse, and neglect shouldn't represent themselves in court. Why are our wishes to see children protected not being honored? Ask Congress & forward this around: tinyurl.com/protect-kids

8️⃣ 0️⃣ days since the federal govt let expire its contract with our network of nonprofit orgs that provided legal representation, legal orientations, & legal screenings to kids navigating the immigration system. Kids need independent & experienced legal help by their side ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

You know what's really scary? The realities that many immigrant families are facing right now. Follow for more ways to get involved.

After 11-year-old Andrés was forcibly separated from his father, he spent 3 months in government custody despite having a stepmother who could care for him. A new wave of family separation is happening out of sight. To learn more, check out the article by @motherjones.com ▶️ https://bit.ly/4hDcJFB

A Path Home. NCYL, @acaciajustice.org, Loyola University Chicago’s Immigration & Human Rights Clinic, and The Door are launching the Children’s Due Process Project website. Explore resources and ways to participate: childrensdueprocess.org

Watch KIND's Jason Boyd discuss growing concerns about information sharing between ORR and ICE during a press briefing hosted by @acaciajustice.org last week.

Placing unaccompanied kid's legal rep & services inside of the agency that holds those kids in federal immigration custody is unprecedented & fails to meet basic standards of independence of counsel. Kids in immigration court need independent & experienced attorneys ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

The vast majority of immigrants are following the law to get status. Visit our blog for the deep dive: https://acaciajustice.org/most-immigrants-are-not-here-illegally/?utm_source=bs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general

A country understands the stories it can see. Some immigrant stories eventually reach the screen. Millions of lives remain outside the frame. Make them visible. To learn more and take action, visit https://www.unmaskinjustice.org/ #NewYorkFilmFestival #UnmaskInjustice #immigrantstories

The fashion industry puts some people under the lights while keeping others out of the public picture. Nobody should have to reach the runway to be safe. To learn more & get involved, visit https://www.unmaskinjustice.org/

New policies w/in the immigration court system put due process at risk. Families are reporting to not receive new date & location details in time to appear before an immigration judge. For the full briefing go to @aila.org or click the link 🔗 https://bit.ly/4yp2UlX

More than 2mo passed since the federal gov't let a contract for legal representation for unaccompanied children expire. Members of Congress are demanding answers from the federal govt for its poor planning to protect children's rights & due process. Read the full letter here: https://bit.ly/4rJMBh2

A 1yo in AZ, w/o an attorney, was told by an immigration judge to file an asylum application days after a federal contract for legal rep expired. A ONE YEAR OLD. So don't ever let yourself feel stupid when things like this are happening. Tell Congress to take action➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

Anti-immigrant sentiment and policy contradict what the majority of Americans believe. In fact, supporting immigrants is wildly popular. Read the full article on our blog: https://acaciajustice.org/supporting-immigrants-is-wildly-popular/?utm_source=bs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general

If you’re a reporter, researcher, or just a data nerd, have we got news for you! Our new Research & Data page is officially online! 📊 The page will continuously publish deep dives on immigration stats and figures for you to nerd out with us. 🤓 Visit ➡️ acaciajustice.org/research-data/

Right now, tens of thousands of unaccompanied kids are at risk of losing the attorneys who have worked to ensure their safety. Take action: Tell Congress to protect #UnaccompaniedChildren ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids Donate to support children’s legal services ➡️ tinyurl.com/4kidsfund

Thank you @staceyabrams.com for always giving us hope! Your dedication to teach the public how to take action and participate in democracy for the wellbeing of others is inspiring. Tell Congress to help protect unaccompanied kids ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

For many people today, the years-long wait for protection in the US can be ended by a 5-minute hearing. AP News quotes advocates saying, “valid claims are closed before being adjudicated," & attorneys cautioning, “Due process is being thrown out of the window." https://tinyurl.com/breakneck-apnews

It's been 75 years since the US helped develop the 1951 Refugee Convention & committed to protecting refugees. Today, we're falling short of this commitment. Find out what can be done on our blog: https://acaciajustice.org/1951-refugee-convention/?utm_source=bs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general

Today we mark one-month since the Trump administration terminated the federal contract that ensured more than 20,000 unaccompanied kids had qualified legal representation. Tell Congress kids need an experienced & independent lawyer by their side. Visit ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

Two wks after the Trump administration ended a contract with a nonprofit network of attorneys to represent unaccompanied kids, a judge ordered a 1yo to file an asylum application while he was unrepresented in immigration court. Tell Congress to act NOW to protect children ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

On August 18 an immigration judge ordered a 1yo baby to file an asylum application by their next hearing. This is because the Trump admin ended a contract w/ a network of nonprofit attorneys who represented unaccompanied kids for over 2 decades. For reference, this is what a 1yo baby looks like.

Children need experienced and independent immigration attorneys by their side. Los niños necesitan contar con abogados de inmigración experimentados e independientes.

Without experienced immigration lawyers by their side, kids like Lily wouldn't have had the chance to reunite with their parents. Kids need trusted and independent legal service providers who can explain the process, protect their rights, and stand beside them in court. 💚 🎥 : @abaprobar

Lo que necesitan estos niños no acompañados no es solo un abogado, si no un abogado con la experiencia para tratar a niños con la sensibilidad necesaria. Estos niños merecen protección, debido proceso y la oportunidad de presentar su caso ante un tribunal. 🧸

Feels like a no brainer but saying it anyways... Unaccompanied kids need experienced legal service providers by their side. 🧸 Let your members of Congress know ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

Watch our full Witness for Justice storytelling event to hear the experiences of immigration lawyers, volunteer court observers, and more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqiwlyFRbm8

1 year since CECOT, and we're still seeing individuals wrongfully detained, families separated & justice unrealized. No one should experience this as they attempt to navigate the system & see their cases through. https://www.propublica.org/article/venezuelans-cecot-el-salvador-trump-families-video

Today's reminder: the claim that immigrants are bad for the economy is false. Learn more on our blog: https://acaciajustice.org/fact-or-fiction-immigration-and-the-economy/?utm_source=bs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general

The government has no plan in place for unaccompanied children. As early as this week, kids could be expected to show up and face an immigration judge alone. KIDS. 🧸

As of now, unaccompanied children do not have access to legal services after the Trump administration allowed a decades long agreement to expire. https://n.pr/4fPnaVE

Now, 20,000+ unaccompanied kids across the country are at risk of going to court w/o their trusted attorneys present after Trump allowed a congressionally mandated program providing legal services for unaccompanied kids to expire on Friday. https://bit.ly/45A6Ljf

Hoy 20,000+ niños vulnerables corren el riesgo de no tener acceso a los abogados de confianza que los representan. La administración de Trump permitió que se venciera el contrato federal con Acacia Center for Justice y su red de casi 100 proveedores de servicios legales para niños no acompañados.

The federal contract of providing unaccompanied children with legal services expired on July 31st, this administration has diverged from every administration — Republican and Democrat — over the past two decades. Unaccompanied children deserve protection, due process, and their day in court. 🧸

“ It's just an overall project to railroad kids and not grant them due process that they're deserving of,” said Sierra Kraft, director of Immigrant Children Advocates' Relief Effort. https://bit.ly/45ydJVT

Tomorrow more than 20,000+ vulnerable children will be waking up without access to their trusted attorneys. Many of these vulnerable children could be deported to the very countries they fled — countries where they faced violence, trafficking, and other dangerous and untenable situations.

“They are clearly trying to destroy the program by grinding down the financial health of nonprofits. We’ve seen layoffs and furloughs, and we will see a lot more of that if these invoices aren’t paid,” said Michael Lukens, the executive director of the Amica Center. https://bit.ly/4h419os

🚨 The contract to defend unaccompanied children ends TODAY, gutting due process 20,000+ kids. Having a legal service provider by their side can make the difference in whether a child is heard or deported. Tell Congress to protect kids ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

A 12yo girl survived labor trafficking since she was 5. A deaf, autistic boy was kidnapped on his journey here—his mom finally rescued him. The federal contract that funds legal aid for 20,000+ unaccompanied kids expires Friday, organizations say they’ll have to shut down. https://bit.ly/4fIpD46

A child cannot be expected to navigate immigration court alone, yet that is exactly what will happen starting this Saturday if the Trump administration succeeds in dismantling these legal services. Tell Congress to honor its promise to protect unaccompanied children: tinyurl.com/protect-kids

Since 2003, protecting unaccompanied children and funding legal services for them has had bipartisan support. But after July 31, these kids — some too young to speak — face the real possibility of going into immigration court alone. Tell Congress to protect kids ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

In just 5️⃣ days, HHS-funded contracts supporting legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children are set to expire on July 31. This could leave approximately 20,000 vulnerable children without an attorney or a clear path forward in immigration court. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4vTjhoG

The system is failing immigrants like Dr. Bolivar and Dr. Veliz. Read the story: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ice-detains-2-doctors-serving-175402089.html

🧸 Tens of thousands of children - some too young to speak - will be forced to navigate a complex immigration system alone because the administration refuses to pay for the legal support Congress approved. Tell Congress to protect unaccompanied children ➡️ tinyurl.com/protect-kids

💡 When there are more immigrants in a community, there are lower crime rates & an increase in factors linked to neighborhood safety. Spread the facts, not the fiction: https://acaciajustice.org/fact-or-fiction-immigrants-and-crime/?utm_source=bs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general

Join us as we work towards a fairer, more humane immigration system: https://acaciajustice.org/get-involved/?utm_source=bs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general

BREAKING: Acacia now has merch! All proceeds support our work to defend the rights of immigrant communities 💚 🌱 🔗 To grab your own merch today, visit tinyurl.com/ACJmerch 🎨 Art is by Natalie Bui: www.nataliebui.com

Your daily reminder that immigrant kids are kids too! They belong in school and on playgrounds, not detention centers. 🧸

Bright spots like these remind us that our efforts matter, that we're not alone, AND that we still have work to do. There are countless ways to help safeguard justice. Find yours: https://acaciajustice.org/get-involved/?utm_source=bs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general