FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AEHT Reaffirms Support for Legal Representation for Unaccompanied Children
The Alliance to End Human Trafficking has long supported access to qualified legal representation for unaccompanied children. Competent counsel helps children navigate complex immigration proceedings, understand their rights, and provides an important safeguard against exploitation, trafficking, and other forms of abuse.
These children can face heightened risks of trafficking and exploitation, making access to knowledgeable legal counsel especially important.
“For children who may already be vulnerable to exploitation, access to experienced legal counsel is especially important,” said Katie Boller Gosewisch, Executive Director of the Alliance to End Human Trafficking. “This work requires experience with both the complexities of immigration law and the circumstances facing unaccompanied children.”
We recognize and support the long-established work of organizations such as Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and the Acacia Center for Justice, which have developed extensive expertise and networks in this specialized area of legal services.
AEHT urges the federal government to ensure continued access to experienced legal counsel for unaccompanied children and to safeguard the quality and continuity of their representation.
###
About the Alliance to End Human Trafficking
Alliance to End Human Trafficking was founded in 2013 by a group of Catholic Sisters committed to ending human trafficking and supporting survivors. They created a national network of resources and support that includes many different congregations of women religious and mission-aligned partners. Today, this member-based organization has grown to include more than 115 congregations and 100+ individuals and organizations across the United States. AEHT is also the U.S. member of Talitha Kum, the international network of consecrated life working to end human trafficking.
CONTACT: Waed Nimri, AEHT Communications Director