State Bar Association leads pro bono initiative for separated immigrant kids living in New York

June 25, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore has pledged that the NYS Unified Court System will help with the NYS Bar Associaiton's pro bono initiative to help out immigrant children who were separated from their families and are now living in New York.

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The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) announced a plan yesterday to bring pro bono leaders from several New York law firms and attorneys throughout the state to help the families that have been separated after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

The money raised for this purpose will be made available through a restricted fund called NYLawyers4Children. NYS Bar Association (NYSBA) The plan that will include participating firms such as Greenberg Traurig and Schiff Hardin, according to NYSBA President Michael Miller.

“The current policy of separating minor migrant children from their parents as part of U.S. border policy is cruel, heartless and un-American,” Miller said. “The forced separation of the children from their parents deprives both parent and child of reasonable due process and is a gross departure from the norms of a civilized society.

“As necessary, we will take action to ensure that the custodial entity respects the children’s needs and that the rights of every one of these children are protected,” Miller added. “In some cases, that may mean commencing legal proceedings to seek the appointment of guardians.”

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore also said that the Unified Court System will work to facilitate actions by attorneys, child care and other organizations to help protect the legal rights of detained children.

“The State court system welcomes the opportunity to partner with the New York State Bar Association to coordinate efforts on behalf of these vulnerable children. As part of this joint endeavor, the court system will expedite the adjudication of these guardianship proceedings, should they become necessary, to ensure protection of the rights and needs of migrant children separated from family members at the border who have been placed in New York facilities.

This announcement came one day after President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that he wants immigrants entering the U.S. illegally to be deported without due process.

“When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases [sic], bring them back from where they came,” Trump tweeted.