Letter to Attorney General

Letter by Coalition of 177 children’s rights, civil rights, faith based and immigrant rights’ groups urging AB to halt government’s practice of pursing immigration proceedings against children who do not have counsel

In re Y.V. Opinion

Opinion from CA Court of Appeals in Y.V. . In the opinion, the appeals court reversed a juvenile court disposition that required the youth to be held in juvenile hall and turned over to ICE. It remanded the case to juvenile court to determine whether the case is moot, and if not, to select a […]

Judge Increases Pressure on U.S. to Release Migrant Famiiles

NY Times article about enforcement of 1997 settlement in Flores v. Lynch, a case concerning the treatment unaccompanied children.The 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement establishes requirements for the release of minors who have been detained by immigration officials and specifies the types of facilities in which minors who have not been released can be held.

Order re Response to Order to Show Cause

Final Order enforcing the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement in Flores v. Lynch, which established requirements for the release of minors who have been detained by immigration officials and specifies the types of facilities in which minors who have not been released can be held. I

Minute Order in Flores v. Johnson

In Chambers Order by Judge Dolly Gee stating that immigrant children who are accompanied by a parent when they are detained by immigration officials are entitled to the protections of the Settlement Agreement in Flores v Johnson. The judge found the Department of Homeland Security and other defendants in violation of the Settlement Agreement and […]

Amicus Curiae Brief – In re Y.V.

The Youth Law Center has applied for leave to file an amicus brief in a second juvenile case pending in the California Court of Appeal in which the juvenile court ordered the youth turned over to federal immigration officials. The youth fled Honduras in 2013 to escape gang violence and the threat of gang indoctrination. […]

Brief of Amici Curiae Youth Law Center and Public Counsel Law Center

Amicus Brief of Youth Law Center and Public Counsel in the Matter of Christian H., a case pending in the California Court of Appeal, in which a youth’s immigration status prevailed over consideration of his rehabilitation and best interest. The youth was adjudicated delinquent after admitting to possession of a controlled substance. The probation department […]

Motion to Enforce Settlement

Motion to Enforce Settlement and Memorandum in Support of Motion to Enforce Settlement of Class Action (Flores v. Johnson).

Press Release

Press Release on Motion to Enforce Settlement Agreement in Flores v. Johnson

Legal Rights of Teens in Out of Home Care (2014)

This booklet, based on California law, covers some of the concerns of a youth in out-of-home care, including types of placements, guardianship, independent living, role of the courts, visitation, confidentiality, pregnancy, money, religion, driving, emancipation and rights and responsibilities of youth in out-of-home care, group or foster homes

Letter Urging Senate to Pass Children Immigration Reform S. 744

This letter urges the senate to: -Protect S.744’s pathway to citizenship for the 11 million, including the DREAM Act, and ensure that the youngest DREAMers have access to the same 5-year pathway to citizenship as older DREAMers -Support efforts to provide equal access to health services and programs that are critical to children’s health and […]

Amendments to S. 744 That Affect Children and Families

The First Focus Campaign for Children (FFCC) is committed to advocating for passage of immigration reform that addresses the specific needs and interests of children. As the Senate continues deliberation of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744), FFCC will be working to defend the provisions in the bill that keep families […]

The Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections (HELP) for Separated Children Act

This is a summary of the Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections (HELP) for Separated Children Act that builds upon humanitarian protections proposed and enacted by the Bush and Obama administrations to protect children whose parents are involved in immigration enforcement actions, and to keep children out of the child welfare system when such involvement is […]

Principles for Children in Immigration Reform

Two page document advocating the following: - A direct, clear, and reasonable pathway to citizenship. Any pathway to citizenship must be open, affordable, safe, and accessible to children in need of status, including beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), undocumented children under the age of 21, and unaccompanied immigrant children. - Protection and […]

200+ Advocates Offer Principles for Immigration Reform that Works for Children Press Release

This press release is about more than 200 organizations representing children, immigrants, academia, faith traditions, and civil rights who released on February 5th a set of principles for immigration reform legislation that meets the needs of children. The bipartisan children’s advocacy organization First Focus and the Women’s Refugee Commission led the effort to develop these […]

Flores v. Meese Stipulated Settlement Agreement

Filed in March 1988, this action presented a class-wide challenge to (a) the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s policy to condition juveniles’ release on bond on their parents’ or legal guardians’ surrendering to INS agents for interrogation and possible deportation; (b) the procedures employed by the INS in imposing a condition on juveniles’ bond that they […]

Flores v. Meese Second Amended Complaint

Filed in March 1988, this action presented a class-wide challenge to (a) the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s policy to condition juveniles’ release on bond on their parents’ or legal guardians’ surrendering to INS agents for interrogation and possible deportation; (b) the procedures employed by the INS in imposing a condition on juveniles’ bond that they […]