Immigration
About This Issue
An arrest or juvenile court involvement may trigger immigration consequences for youth, including detention and deportation. It is critical to consider immigration consequences on every case and consult with an immigration attorney if you think your client could be at risk for immigration consequences and/or eligible for immigration relief.
On this page, we're compiling information and resources to assist youth defenders and advocates navigate these complicated and shifting challenges. You must be logged in as a registered youth defender to access some of the resources on this page. Please log in or register for an account.
If you have motions, briefs, or other resources that could be helpful to other youth defenders and advocates, please send them to us at inquiries@defendyouthrights.org.
Gault Center Resources
Beehive Buzz: Emerging Strategies from Summit 2025
Youth Defender Guide: Upholding the Rights of Immigrant Youth in Juvenile Court
Virtual Appearance Checklist
Juvenile Defender’s Guide to Immigration Issues in Juvenile Proceedings
Ten Reasons to Ask Clients about Citizenship
Immigration Tip Sheet Series
Youth Defender Immigration Tip Sheet: General Guidance
Youth Defender Immigration Tip Sheet: Rights of Noncitizen Youth in Juvenile Court
Youth Defender Immigration Tip Sheet: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Juvenile Court Judge Immigration Tip Sheet: General Guidance
Juvenile Probation Officer Immigration Tip Sheet: General Guidance
Juvenile Probation Officer Immigration Tip Sheet: Checklist
Guidance for Youth Defenders
A Common-Law Privilege To Protect State and Local Courts During the Crimmigration Crisis
After Week 1: Updates and FAQs (Massachusetts CPCS Immigration Impact Unit)
B.R. v. Garland (9th Circuit)
Beehive Buzz: Emerging Strategies from Summit 2025
Children’s Immigration Law Academy Pro Bono Guide
Constitutional Challenges to Courthouse Civil Arrests of Noncitizens
Cultural Competency and Humility when Representing UCs
Demystifying Removal Proceedings (Massachusetts CPCS Immigration Impact Unit)
Deportation Defense Manual
Family Attorneys, How to Advise Immigrant Clients on ICE in the Courts
Gender Affirming Language in Immigration Court
ICE Detainers in State Court (Massachusetts CPCS Immigration Impact Unit)
Immigrants and Marijuana
Immigration & Orders of Protection
Immigration Enforcement Update: Immigration Related Executive Orders (Massachusetts CPCS Immigration Impact Unit)
Immigration Relief Toolkit and Chart for Criminal Defenders
Juvenile Probation Officer Immigration Tip Sheet: Checklist
Juvenile Probation Officer Immigration Tip Sheet: General Guidance
KIND Immigration Consequences of Delinquency and Crimes
Overview of Seeking SIJS Findings in Juvenile Court
Practice Advisory: The Laken Riley Act’s Mandatory Detention Provisions
Practicing Trauma-Informed Care in Client Meetings
Quick Reference Chart on the Immigration Consequences of Delinquency
Representing Noncitizen Clients in Juvenile Court Proceedings
Screening for Immigration Relief: Sample Client Intake Form
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status & The Grounds of Inadmissibility
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status & Visa Availability
The Laken Riley Act & Juvenile Delinquency
The Law and Lawlessness of U.S. Immigration Detention
The Road to Slow Deportation
Tips for Working with Migrant Children and Trauma-Informed Lawyering
Washington State Court Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Classification Bench Book and Resource Guide
What are the Immigration Consequences of Delinquency?
What Is Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)?
Know Your Rights and Community Resources
#CommunitiesNotCages: Toolkit to Fight Detention and Deportations
Build Community Power Through Art: Event Host Toolkit
Checklist: Sharing Videos of Immigration Enforcement
Community Explainer: Laken Riley Act (National Immigration Project)
Confronting Discrimination Based on National Origin and Immigration Status
Family Preparedness Plan (KIND)
FAQ: The New Registration Requirement
Filming Immigration Enforcement in the U.S.
Fourth Amendment Toolkit for Organizations
How Can Age Affect my Immigration Relief Options?
Immigration “Wellness Checks” for Children
Immigration Arrests & Raids: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Rights
Know Your Rights Cards (CLINIC)
Know Your Rights Cards: How to Use (CLINIC)
Know Your Rights flyers (CLINIC)
Know Your Rights flyers (KIND)
Know Your Rights When Confronted by ICE (Immigrant Legal Resource Center)
Know Your Rights When Interacting with Immigration Officers (ICE) (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights)
Know Your Rights: If ICE Comes to Your Home (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
Know Your Rights: If ICE Comes to Your Work Place (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
Know Your Rights: If ICE Stops You in Public (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
Legal Service Provider List for Unaccompanied Children (Texas)
My Community Member Was Arrested by ICE – What Do I Do?
Practice Advisory: Considerations in Asylum Claims for Transgender People
Preparedness Packet (United We Dream)
Preparing for ICE Encounters Know your Rights, Responses & Recourses
Protecting Access to Education for Migratory Children
Protecting Children in Schools Against Immigration Enforcement
Real or Rumor: How to Verify Online Reports of ICE Raids
Red Cards (Immigrant Legal Resource Center)
Red Cards: How to Use (Immigrant Legal Resource Center)
Resilience and Community Care Toolkit
Step by Step Family Preparedness Plan
Stop and Identify Statutes in the United States
Termination of Parole Notices: What do I do?
The Rights of Immigrants in Family Court (New York State Family Court)
The Rights of Lawful Permanent Residents
U.S. Citizen Kids and ICE Check-Ins: How to Prepare
U.S. Citizen Kids and ICE Check-Ins: How to Prepare
Using Your #RightToRecord Immigration Enforcement
Week 1 Under Donald Trump 2.0 (National Immigration Project)
What is Section 1324? Understanding the Smuggling/Harboring Federal Crime
Your Rights in an Immigration Interview While in Massachusetts Jails or Prisons (Massachusetts CPCS Immigration Impact Unit)
Youth Rights Walletcard (KIND)
Guidance for Other Professionals
10 Strategies for how Schools Should Respond to Help Children Impacted by ICE Raids
ABA CILA Fact Sheet: Unaccompanied Children at the Border
End School Pushout for Black Girls and Other Girls of Color
Equity for Whom? How Private Equity and the Punishment Bureaucracy Exploit Disabled People
Ganging Up on Communities? Putting Gang Crime in Context
Guidance to Nonprofits Regarding Immigration Enforcement
Guilt By Association: How Police Databases Punish Black and Latinx Youth
Hand in Hand: Schools’ Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risks to Students
ICE’s Use of Subpoenas to Circumvent State and Local Laws
Immigration Benchbook For Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Newcomer Immigrant Youth in Juvenile Justice Court Proceedings: A Trauma-Informed Approach
No Sanctuary for Judges: When Legal Ethics Conflict with Federal Law
Practice Advisory: Considerations in Asylum Claims for Transgender People
Protecting Immigrant Students Action Kit
Six Amendments to The Immigration and Nationality Act Made by the Laken Riley Act
Stronger Together
The Grapevine – A Southern Trans Report
The Immigration Subpoena Power
The Inappropriate Use of Juvenile Records in Immigration Discretion
The Juvenile Justice System and Immigrant Youth
What to Do if Immigration/ICE Arrives at Law Clinics
Other Organizations with Immigration Expertise
- Americans for Immigrant Justice
- CLEAR
- CLINIC
- Detention Watch Network
- Immigrant Defense Project
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- Interrupting Criminalization: Block It Toolkit
- Just Futures Law
- KIND - Kids In Need of Defense
- National Immigration Law Center
- National Immigration Project
- United We Dream
- We Have Rights
Directories of Immigration Attorneys & Organizations
Recording & Reporting Abuses
Resources by State
California:
- Immigration resources: Help for children and families
- Directory of Free Legal Services for Immigrants in California
Connecticut:
DC:
Georgia:
Maryland:
Massachusetts:
New Jersey
New York:
Rhode Island:
- Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island Family Preparedness Plan
- Center for Justice Family Preparedness Plan
Texas:
Virginia:
Washington: