政治
Lawsuit Says Children Are Being Repatriated to Boost Deportation Numbers
A lawsuit filed by Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh and six clients alleges that children are being repatriated to boost deportation numbers amid "drastic policy changes" in immigration courts.
The complaint, brought by Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh (JFCS) and six clients, claims kids are being repatriated to boost deportation numbers amid "drastic policy changes" in immigration courts. It names the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and USCIS as defendants. Plaintiffs say immigration judges have been instructed to deny children adequate time for applications like Special Immigrant Juvenile status or T nonimmigrant status, which protect abused or trafficked minors.
One client, FYCT, a 17-year-old trafficking survivor from Guatemala, was ordered deported by a Philadelphia court despite a federal trafficking determination. Another, KTN, a 19-year-old from Vietnam in Pennsylvania, fled severe physical abuse. JFCS says hearings are advanced on days' notice and the juvenile docket is slated to finish by November 2026. "This case is about the most vulnerable in our immigration system, the lawsuit states, noting the agenda of "deport at all costs" conflicts with protecting children.
JFCS COO Dana Gold said, "Markwayne Mullin said any child who's trafficked we will protect, right? And that's not what I'm seeing happening.