Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on
Bipartisan Bill to Protect Unaccompanied Immigrant Children
July 11, 2001

Washington, DC - On Tuesday, July 17, 2001 at 2:30 p.m., the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Immigration will hold a hearing on a bill sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bob Graham (D-FL) and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) to ensure that unaccompanied alien children receive humane and appropriate treatment while in the custody of the United States Government.

"Last year, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) had more than 4,600 unaccompanied alien children in custody, including many who came to the United States traumatized, exploited, and fleeing persecution," Senator Feinstein said. "But instead of receiving the care they needed, almost 2,000 of these youngsters were detained by the INS in juvenile jails and were sometimes imprisoned with violent offenders."

The following people have been invited to testify at the hearing:

Panel 1: Congressional Witnesses

Senator Bob Graham (D-FL)

Representative Chris Cannon (R-UT)

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Panel 2: INS

Michael Pearson, Executive Associate Commissioner for Field Operations, INS

Panel 3: Public Witnesses

Ramon Zepeda: a 17-year old boy from Nicaragua, who was held in for more than a year in seven different detention facilities in Arizona, California, Washington and Pennsylvania will testify about his experiences in the INS system. His attorney, Theresa Forst, will also testify.

Wendy Young, Director of Government Relations and U.S. Programs, Women's Commission for Refugee Women & Children

Mark Franken, Director, Migration and Refugee Services, U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops

Andrew D. Morton, Esq., Latham & Watkins

"This legislation is premised on the belief that we have a special obligation to ensure that every child who comes into the contact with the INS is afforded fair and humane treatment. In the end, I hope that we will live up to our obligation and put into place these long overdue immigration reforms."

Specifically, the Unaccompanied Alien Children Protection Act of 2001 would:

• Establish a new Office of Children's Services within the Department of Justice to coordinate the care and custody of unaccompanied alien children. This would ensure that Federal authorities recognize the special needs and circumstances of unaccompanied alien children when making decisions regarding their custody and repatriation.



• Establish minimum standards for the custody (or, where appropriate, detention) of unaccompanied alien children.



• Streamline INS procedures to provide better agency coordination when an unaccompanied child comes into federal custody.



• Require, whenever possible, family reunification or other appropriate placement for unaccompanied alien children. Expands shelter care facilities and foster care programs in which these children receive the care and services appropriate for their age and circumstances.



• Develop a corps of child welfare professionals to act as guardians ad litem (e.g. court appointed social workers) and to make recommendations regarding custody, detention, release and removal, based upon the best interests of each child.

• Ensure adequate legal representation for unaccompanied alien children, either through pro bono legal services or appointed counsel.
  

• Ensure that children awaiting adjudication of their immigration status not "age-out" while awaiting processing by the Service of their petitions and applications; and
  

• Strengthen opportunities for permanent protection of such children when such protection is warranted.
  

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