Building Systems That See Immigrant Children as Children
Fighting for impactful reform of the immigration system while pursuing changes in policy and practice that center children’s rights and best interests in all decisions.
Policy Program
Immigrant children who seek protection in the United States are thrown into a system of laws, regulations, and policies developed for adults. That system is adversarial, with the government fighting to restrict migration into the United States. Unlike many other systems, decisionmakers are not required—or in some instances even permitted—to consider their best interests when making decisions that directly impact children’s safety, permanency, and connection to family.
At the Young Center, we fight for a new system, one built around the needs and capacities of children. Our Policy Team fights for the rights and best interests of immigrant children and youth by influencing key decision-makers to drive local and national policy change.
Our Policy Priorities
- To establish a best interests standard for all decisions about immigrant children;
- To reimagine children’s time in custody and their immigration proceedings;
- To end family separation;
- To safeguard existing legal protections for children; and
- To collaborate with allies in child welfare and juvenile justice reform to prioritize children’s rights as established in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.