New York City Council Speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito, announced that the city has allocated $1.9 million in funds to pay for the legal fees of unaccompanied migrant children facing legal proceedings. This is very welcomed news for thousands of Central American minors who fled the region as a result of increased violence and instability in their countries.
During a press conference, Mark-Viverito noted that although the U.S. is facing an immigration crisis of its own, “these children face a crisis in their home countries that far surpasses anything being debated on Capitol Hill, City Hall or on TV. This isn’t a political issue; it’s a moral one.”
As the gridlock in Congress continues to stifle any hopes of passing comprehensive immigration reform this year, states such as New York have taken it upon themselves to ensure the well-being of the estimated 2,500 undocumented children who will be relocated to New York City. Furthermore, cities like San Francisco have enacted similar measures and committed over $2 million to pay for the legal proceedings of migrant children in the city.
Mark-Viverito also stated that the future and safety of these children would only be jeopardized further without proper legal representation. “Without legal representation, these young people will be sent back to their home countries, where they will likely encounter abuse, persecution, gang violence or possible death. We cannot turn our backs on these children.”
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