California seeks $3 million in legal aid for unaccompanied minors
In a move to address the lack of legal representation available to many unaccompanied minors, California Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers are proposing a…
California lawmakers are proposing legislation, which is supported by Gov. Jerry Brown, that would set aside $3 million to provide legal services to unaccompanied minors. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
In a move to address the lack of legal representation available to many unaccompanied minors, California Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers are proposing a bill to provide $3 million in legal services to those children.
Helping these young people navigate our legal system is the decent thing to do and its consistent with the progressive spirit of California, Brown said in a statement.
The legislation would provide $3 million to qualified nonprofits to provide legal aid for unaccompanied minors in California. It would also give the state court the jurisdiction to make findings necessary to enable the federal government to grant special immigrant juvenile status to these children. In addition, it would reinforce the courts authority to provide interpreters to unaccompanied minors.
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Brown announced the legislation at a press conference at the state Capitol on Thursday. Joining him were several state Democratic leaders, including Sen. Ricardo Lara, chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, who said the unaccompanied minors crisis at the border is a serious problem that requires a serious response.
Gov. Jerry Brown supporters the legislation to provide $3 million in legal aid to unaccompanied minors in California. (AP Photo/ Rich Pedroncelli)
Last month, Brown traveled to Mexico to meet with Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez as well as religious and diplomatic leaders from Mexico and Central America. He told them that the unaccompanied minors whove been caught trying to cross the border present a very serious humanitarian challenge.
In a similar trip, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and a delegation of state lawmakers traveled to El Salvador and Guatemala to meet with national leaders. They discussed the root causes of why so many unaccompanied minors are coming to the U.S.
These kids face a daunting immigration process and any failures in our justice system that lead to deportation can be a death sentence, Steinberg said in a statement.
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About 57,000 unaccompanied children mostly from Central America have been apprehended at the southern border since October. Of those children, an estimated 3,900 are currently in California.
Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins said that a recent visit this summer to a temporary detention center in Ventura County where the some of the children were being housed made it clear to her why this legislation is needed.
With these bills were making it clear California wants unaccompanied immigrant children treated as children, she stated. We want their well-being ensured, their best interests pursued, and their safety protected.
The California State Legislature has until Aug. 31 to vote on the bill before it adjourns for the year. Democrats feel confident that the legislation will pass given that they control both houses of the legislature and dont need support from Republicans to approve it. The move could help Democrats gain backing from Latino voters in the November election.
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