Children Forced To Be Their Own Lawyers In Immigration Court

The Trump administration is forcing children as young as toddlers to represent themselves in immigration courts.
By Ed Scarce — July 4, 2018

Now This News put out this shorter version of Linda Freedman's re-enactment of the court proceedings for unaccompanied children.

Source: The Daily Beast

The Immigration Counseling Service produced a short film called Unaccompanied, meant to depict the experiences of unaccompanied children defending themselves in court–armed without parents or lawyers. The clips depicting court proceedings, which are reenactments based on court transcripts, show small children answering questions from former Oregon Judge William Snouffer–who plays the trial judge. “Do you understand what these proceedings here in court are all about?” asks Judge Snouffer. A little boy shakes his head no. Judge Snouffer then asks a little girl named Sophia in the film if she knew “what a lawyer” was. She responds, “No.” “I was stunned at the obstacles [the children] faced alone, and the disregard for their basic rights,” wrote producer and filmmaker Linda Freedman. “I know in my heart that this film will find those of you who will rise up, as you always do, to help your fellow humans in their time of need.”

Here is the full version of Unaccompanied.

UNACCOMPANIED: Alone in America from Linda Freedman on Vimeo.

Alyssa Milano's reaction speaks for all of us.

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