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Washington Update Innocent Immigrant Children I hope that you have all had a restful summer and are geared up for an active fall! LIRS is firing up the advocacy engines to move some important legislation that is vital to the protection of unaccompanied children in the custody of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Did you know that INS detains more than 5,000 immigrant children every year? One-third of them are held in jail-like facilities, often with juvenile delinquents, even though the vast majority have committed no crime. "They are strip searched, patted down, placed in solitary confinement for punishment, forced to wear prison uniforms and shackles, and are forbidden to keep personal objects," notes Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Did I say they were treated like criminals? It's actually worse. People accused of crimes are entitled to court-appointed lawyers to make sure their rights are protected. The foreign children have to face the system alone. And they are already in the hands of the very law enforcement agency that is bent on their deportation. Where do they come from? Many different lands, including countries presently torn by political persecution, war and civil strive. Some come alone, some were placed on planes by relatives, some are brought by smugglers who use them for cover or sell them into trafficking networks. No matter how they come, they are vulnerable and should not be treated like criminals by the INS. The Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2001-S121, HR1904-would correct many of the worst features of INS treatment of children. It would allow courts to appoint guardians ad litem and lawyers to identify and advocate for the child's best interests. It would create an Office of Children's Services in the Department of Justice to take jurisdiction over custody and release decisions and standards of care for children away from the INS Office of Detention and Removal. Unfortunately, the bill has been languishing since its introduction this past January. With so many other issues making the news, it seems the children have been forgotten. But are they not the least among us? It is up to us to take this bill state by state, district by district and build the co-sponsorship that it needs to get passed into law. And we are calling upon you to help! Check out the advocacy section on our website for updates and watch for materials coming soon to your mailbox.
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