We and our wonderful partners at Acacia, KIND, the Young Center, and Al Otro Lado hosted a webinar titled “Navigating the Ongoing Migrant Family Separation Crisis in the U.S.” – an issue that is becoming increasingly important as immigrants continue to be scapegoated in current political discourse. We are excited to share the recording with you below.
During the webinar, we uplifted the critical impact of VECINA’s ReUnite Project, as the only program in the United States that provides free legal assistance in the reunification process to the family members and other loved ones of detained unaccompanied children. We know that our efforts often make the difference between a child being reunified with a trusted loved one or remaining in detention.
We rely on our amazing volunteers and on community contributions to sustain ReUnite. Family separation remains a critical issue in the U.S. and, while there is federal funding to support detained unaccompanied children, there is no such funding to support their loved ones in the reunification process. Without community investment, the ReUnite Project is at risk, leaving the loved ones of detained immigrant children with no one to turn to for legal support in the reunification process.
Moderator: Derek Loh, Director of Learning and Development, Unaccompanied Children’s Program, Acacia Center for Justice
Panelist: Marilia Richards, Managing Attorney, Detained Team, Kids in Need of Defense
Panelist: Molly Chew, ReUnite Project Director, VECINA
Panelist: Nicole Elizabeth Ramos, Director, Border Rights Project, Al Otro Lado
Panelist: Juliana Pinto McKeen, Social Worker, Child Advocate Supervisor, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights