Amy Maldonado

Welcome, and many thanks to John Oliver and the Last Week Tonight team for drawing attention to this important issue! Immigrant kids need lawyers! As you know, Assistant Chief Immigration judge Jack Weil (who trains IJs) stated in sworn testimony that three and four-year-old immigrant children (who often don't speak English) can learn immigration law well enough to represent themselves against trained ICE trial attorneys/prosecutors.

In response, immigration lawyer moms, dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents around the country have done mock immigration court hearings with their three and four year old kids.  Here are the adorable video results, to emphasize the truly terrible plight of unrepresented toddlers in immigration court who are expected to proceed without a lawyer or advocate.