Thread by @ImmDef

Today is the first day ImmDef will begin providing legal services to unaccompanied children at the @LongBeachCity Long Beach Convention Center EIS. #WelcomeWithDignity 🧵1/10
Read: immdef.org/post/immdef-to…

https://twitter.com/L_Toczylowski/status/1385445746514677761

Many of the children entering these EIS were forced to flee their home countries due to severe violence, persecution, natural disaster, & some may have been separated from parents or family members due to the Biden Admin's continued implementation of the unjust Title 42 policy. 2

While the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 requires that children be transferred from CBP custody into ORR facilities within 72 hours, ImmDef staff recently witnessed a child still in CBP custody after 26 days & allowed only 2 showers in that time. 3

"The Biden admin is currently losing the battle of getting kids out of CBP w/in 72 hrs, & CBP is the deadliest place for children in government custody. While no child should be sleeping in a convention ctr, it is necessary in this moment in order to save lives." @L_Toczylowski 4

"I hope this is the last time we ever have to serve children in facilities like this, and that the Biden administration focuses on its promise to reimagine the immigration system in a way that welcomes children and their families with dignity.” @L_Toczylowski 5

ImmDef will provide Know-Your Rights presentations to all children, legal screenings to as many children as possible, and will rep children in court as needed to fight for their release to their families. Read this thread to learn more about the facilities

https://twitter.com/L_Toczylowski/status/1385445737513701376

ImmDef will ensure every child who is nearing their 18th birthday is released from ORR custody to avoid transfers to ICE custody. For children whose ultimate destination is outside of SoCal, ImmDef will make referrals to LSPs in those locations. 6

In addition, ImmDef will recruit, train, and supervise on-site volunteers from other local partner legal services organizations. 7

Legal Services Director @Yliana_JM "Even while we offer to provide services to children in these emergency facilities, we continue to advocate that ORR only detain children as long as is absolutely necessary, and we are encouraging them to move to a family first model..." 8

"...that ensures speedy reunification, and a redistribution of resources from a detention-based model to a community-based services model that includes access to social services and universal representation.” @Yliana_JM #WelcomeWithDignity 9

ImmDef remains committed to our mission that no
immigrant should stand alone; the children in Long Beach and Pomona are a priority and we hope our
advocacy and services reflect to them how welcome they are here in California. #WelcomeWithDignity
Read: immdef.org/post/immdef-to…