Join the groundswell of lawyers fighting to protect due process.
If you are horrified by the stories of immigrants being arrested at courthouses, children zip-tied in the middle of the night by masked agents, and the absurdity of young children being forced to represent themselves alone in immigration court, the Acacia Center for Justice can help you find a meaningful career defending the rights of immigrant children.
Lawyers employed in the Unaccompanied Children Program provide free representation to break this cycle of injustice. If you feel called to do something in this moment of heightened attacks on immigrant rights, there’s an organization in your city that needs a lawyer like you to fight to protect due process. Explore our provider map to get involved or sign up for our newsletter to receive monthly job roundups.
Why we need lawyers like you:
258,000
There are currently 258,000 unaccompanied children with pending immigration cases.
7x
With legal representation, unaccompanied kids are 7x more likely to receive an outcome to remain in the United States than those without an attorney.
1 in 137
To achieve universal representation, every free or low cost immigration lawyer in America would need to represent 137 children each.
The reality was already pretty tough for unaccompanied kids before the Trump administration began its assault on immigrant communities. When unaccompanied kids arrive in the U.S., they are taken into government custody and forced to navigate a confusing and complicated legal system by themselves. Unlike in criminal court, people in immigration court aren’t guaranteed an attorney if they can’t afford one. This means kids – including toddlers who cannot sit in the courtroom chair without a booster seat – are expected to represent themselves, and defend their case, in front of a judge and against a trained government attorney.
The Acacia Center for Justice runs the Unaccompanied Children Program to connect these children with lawyers and provide resources, including court preparation and know-your-rights trainings. DOGE and Trump tried to shut down Acacia’s program in the beginning of this year, but we’re still fighting, and we need you.
Alice Lima Lovchik,
former personal injury lawyer
As an immigrant myself, I wanted to represent immigrants in removal proceedings and help them navigate the complexity of the U.S. immigration system. I work with children detained in ORR custody and it is rewarding to ensure that they are not alone when facing removal proceedings.
Jim Milstein,
former public defender
As a public defender, I was always frustrated to meet adults who would have been granted immigration relief as a minor if they had been able to find a lawyer. I find working with unaccompanied children allows me to continue to appear in state courts in which I am most experienced.
Alexa Sendukas,
former litigation associate
I enjoy representing unaccompanied children because they deserve an advocate who will fight for them and help them navigate the incredibly challenging immigration system. Now I get the opportunity to support these youth with so much potential as they create bright futures.
Ready to explore a career representing unaccompanied children? Check out the amazing organizations in the Unaccompanied Children Program, or sign up to learn more about opportunities near you.