The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) picks up about 8,000 unaccompanied, undocumented minors each year, according to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and 85 percent of them come from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. These immigrant youths then face deportation proceedings—and over half must do so without a lawyer.

Section 292 of immigration law, gives immigrants the right to representation—but not to free, government-appointed lawyers. And because undocumented youth usually have no money, they must rely on pro-bono lawyers to step in for defense.

City Topics
Immigration
Justice
Below, Don Mathisen interviews reporter Meredith Hoffman about her story on young migrants facing immigration court.