FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2026
CONTACT: press@acaciajustice.org
WASHINGTON — The Acacia Center for Justice welcomes the introduction of the Children’s Safe Welcome Act, a bicameral bill that would establish comprehensive statutory protections for children navigating the U.S. immigration system by codifying child welfare standards, strengthening oversight of federal immigration facilities, and guaranteeing legal representation for unaccompanied children throughout removal proceedings. The bill would also prohibit family detention and separation, strengthen custody standards, and bar harmful information sharing about unaccompanied children and their families.
The legislation arrives amid escalating efforts taken by the administration to dismantle longstanding protections including access to quality legal services for immigrant children. As detention expands and the deportation machine grinds on at breakneck speed in the courts and on the streets, children find themselves at an increasingly heightened risk of deportation without any meaningful due process.
Lillie Hinkle, Acacia’s Manager of Federal Policy, welcomed the introduction and said:
“At a time when the legal protections and services afforded to immigrant children face unprecedented threats, the Children’s Safe Welcome Act reaffirms a simple principle: children should be treated like children. By embedding child welfare standards, due process and oversight protections, and guaranteed access to counsel into federal law, this legislation would be a tremendous help in ensuring no child is forced to navigate the immigration system alone.
We are grateful to Senator Merkley (D-OR), Representative Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), and all of the bill’s cosponsors for advancing legislation that recognizes children’s dignity and legal rights. Acacia looks forward to working with Congress and our partners to strengthen these protections, safeguard child well-being and ensure every child has a fair opportunity to have their day in court and seek safety under the law.”
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Acacia Center for Justice expands meaningful access to justice and freedom for immigrants at risk of detention or deportation in partnership with an accountable and independent national network of immigrant legal service providers and community partners. Acacia Center for Justice’s reach and impact are unparalleled. The national nonprofit currently operates publicly funded programs and responsive collaborations through a network of over 130 legal service providers nationwide.
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