KIND presents at first-ever conference on unaccompanied children in Guatemala
- Wednesday, October 03, 2012 |
- Written by Wendy Ramirez
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The director of KIND's Guatemalan Child Return and Reintegration Program presented at the first-ever conference on Guatemalan Unaccompanied Children in Guatemala City in early September, which was attended by the First Lady of Guatemala. The conference was organized by the University of Rafael Landivar in Guatemala City, UNICEF, MENAMIG (National Round Table for Migration in Guatemala), and the Embassy of Spain's Development Center in Guatemala, and brought together migration and child protection experts to discuss the needs of migrant children from a human rights perspective. A common theme during the event was the importance of a comprehensive response to the protection of migrant children from Guatemala, not only in their destination country, but also while they are in transit to that country, during return, and once they are back in Guatemala. The convening was the first time the growing network of government and nongovernmental organizations working to address migrant children's rights in Guatemala and in the region came together to share knowledge and experiences.
Read more: KIND presents at first-ever conference on unaccompanied children in Guatemala
Showing a Clear Commitment to Pro Bono
- Tuesday, October 02, 2012 |
- Written by Adiyah Ali
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According to Jennifer Tomsen, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig's Houston office who specializes in commercial and securities litigation and arbitration, one example of her firm's support of pro bono work is the fact that lawyers get billable credit for their work on pro bono cases.
Green Card Stories Reception in DC- October 10th
- Thursday, September 13, 2012 |
- Written by Alex Pender
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SAVE THE DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10!
Discussion and Book Signing
Please join us for an evening to recognize and celebrate recent immigrants to the United States, many of whom came at a young age and left behind lives of fear and instability for the protection of the United States. Learn about their stories and meet a young person who came to the United States alone as a child seeking safety in the U.S.
Three Hogan Lovells Lawyers Help Two Unaccompanied Children Who Fled From Abuse
- Thursday, August 30, 2012 |
- Written by Adiyah Ali
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When Renee Erickson, Sachi Jepson, and Veronica Knapp, associates in Hogan Lovells' Washington, D.C. office, attended a KIND training at their firm this past January, they each left the meeting with the realization of the urgent need of legal representation for unaccompanied children and determined to take one of KIND's many compelling cases.
Read more: Three Hogan Lovells Lawyers Help Two Unaccompanied Children Who Fled From Abuse
Dreaming a new future in Guatemala
- Thursday, August 23, 2012 |
- Written by Wendy Ramirez
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Michael's father turned with a hopeful look to his son and said, "You can build your future here, too, you know."
Eighteen-year-old Michael had recently returned to Guatemala through KIND's Guatemalan Child Return and Reintegration Program (GCRRP) after two years in the United States. KIND GCRRP staff and a social worker from one of our local partner nongovernmental organizations, DESGUA, were meeting with Michael and his father to see how the boy was doing after being returned from the U.S. three weeks previously.
KIND visits clients in Guatemala; Manny's story
- Wednesday, August 08, 2012 |
- Written by Megan McKenna
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KIND staff traveled to Guatemala in late June to attend a retreat of young people, including a number of children who participated in our Guatemalan Child Return and Reintegration Program (GCRRP), which KIND runs in partnership with the Global Fund for Children.
The goal of the retreat, which was organized by some of our local nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners and attended by about 40 teenagers, was to bring young people, returned migrants and non migrants, together for the first time to share their experiences, learn from and support each other, and to try to generate hope that they can have a safe and productive future in their home country. Energetic young community leaders were brought in to help lead the many team-building activities that were interspersed throughout two days of workshops that highlighted the young people's concerns and needs, and encouraged them to think through ways of addressing them while remaining in Guatemala. Organizers of the retreat also worked to eliminate the shame and sense of failure many of the young people felt because they were returned to Guatemala.
Exemplifying a Commitment to Pro Bono Work
- Wednesday, August 08, 2012 |
- Written by Adiyah Ali
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Katherine "Kathy" Ku, an associate in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, was successful in helping a 17-year-old boy who had suffered from years of emotional, verbal, and physical abuse obtain Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), as well as lawful permanent resident status. This was a very difficult challenge given that Kathy had to work within very tight deadlines because her client, Allen,* was a few months shy of his 18th birthday, and thus getting close to aging out of eligibility to pursue SIJS.
"Kathy was a tireless advocate for Allen," said KIND's Supervising Attorney in Los Angeles, Lindsay Lang. "Even when Allen's I-485 (green card) was approved and the green card never arrived – apparently it got lost in the mail – Kathy was not deterred; she continued to advocate for a replacement card, until it finally arrived, nearly two years later."
Kathy, who practices corporate law with an emphasis on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, had the full support of her firm as she volunteered to represent Allen.
An Afternoon at the Baltimore Immigration Court Children’s Docket
- Thursday, July 12, 2012 |
- Written by Adiyah Ali
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Baltimore, July 12 – Summer vacation. In the United States, we think of carefree children enjoying long summer days with their friends and family, spending their time playing outside in the neighborhood or at camp, or on a family vacation, but regardless, having fun as only kids can.
More than twenty children ranging in age from seven to 17 years old were having a much different experience on a hot mid-July afternoon in downtown Baltimore. They were packed into a courtroom, which was filled to capacity – standing room only – with their peers, wearing blazers and khakis, blouses and skirts, and very serious expressions, some clearly strained with tension.
Read more: An Afternoon at the Baltimore Immigration Court Children’s Docket
KIND Meets with Returned Children in Guatemala
- Monday, July 02, 2012 |
- Written by Megan McKenna
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Tecpan, Guatemala—A group of about 40 young Guatemalan boys and girls are laughing raucously in the cool afternoon sun, trying to get their teams of 10 across a field and to a line of trees at the finish line, using only two small mats to ferry everyone to the other side without touching the grass. Tightly squeezed groups balancing on these small squares repeatedly fall over into giggling heaps, running back to the start line to try again, while keeping a keen eye on their competitors lurching across the field. The game, and other team-building games like it, ended in a group circle, with all holding hands promising to support and help each other over the next two days, at this retreat for young people who migrated from Guatemala in hopes of a better life in the United States and in Mexico.
KIND News Roundup
- Wednesday, June 27, 2012 |
- Written by Megan McKenna
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It's been a particularly busy few weeks in the immigration world. As you likely know, the Obama administration announced a new policy June 15 regarding DREAM Act-eligible young people, allowing those who meet certain criteria to apply for deferred action.
