Bipartisan bill to support unaccompanied children in court
To improve the adjudication of immigration cases involving unaccompanied immigrant children, U.S. Representative from Florida María Elvira Salazar recently introduced a proposal legislation to establish the Children’s Court. The bill would require children’s immigration court judges to receive special training on child trafficking, developmental and trauma-informed practice, and docket management tools. The bill would require that the Children’s Court utilize child-appropriate procedures to help ensure that children comprehend the proceedings, are treated appropriately for their developmental stage, and have sufficient time to secure counsel.