When I heard on the radio that protests are planned this weekend in communities around the country against housing immigrant children in these communities, I started to compose a rant about how wrong these protests are. But more ranting won’t change the ranters, and it won’t help the children either.
My daughter Justine is an immigration and family law attorney in San Antonio, Texas. I asked her for the names of reputable agencies which are helping the plight of these children. She gave me two names.
The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Service (RAICES) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency provides free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families and refugees in Central and South Texas. RAICES’ dedicated staff of attorneys and accredited representatives assist individuals with their immigration cases. Click here to access the RAICES web site, and here for the page to make a donation to RAICES. Particularly as the politicians scramble to pander to the protestors and ship these children out of the country quickly, these children need good legal representation to protect their rights.
A large number of the children are staying with BCFS. Founded in San Antonio in 1944 as a home for children with nowhere else to go, BCFS today is a global system of health and human service non-profit organizations that touches the lives of millions from coast-to-coast and around the world. Click here for the BCFS website, and here to make a donation to BCFS. Your donations can help with care for the physical needs of migrant children.
Other suggestions of how we can help are welcome. Just add a comment to this post.
I think a movement should be started to encourage every school in the nation to provide a home (and school) for one child. How this could be initiated I do not know, but anyone who has a school-age child could start with their school.
My law firm, McCarter & English are organizing an effort to establish pro bono legal services to help these children. I’m sure additional services are needed from other large (and small) law firms. I can send along contact information for the associate at my law firm that is taking the lead for this project, if someone else is interested in establishing similar services.