On Wednesday, Chicago Immigration Court in the Loop heard a juvenile docket that resulted in removal orders for at least six unaccompanied illegal immigrant children. The children, ages 12 to 17 and mostly from Central America, had arrived in the United States without parents or guardians and were seeking protection after experiencing abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
Advocates and attorneys warn of rapid case turnover
Laura Smith, executive director of the National Immigrant Justice Center’s Children’s Legal Center, said her office represented a handful of the roughly 20 children on the docket. She described how attorneys prepared the youths for the possibility of removal, noting that “there were tears” when the children learned they could be forced to leave the country.
Smith noted that the pace of hearings has accelerated dramatically. Cases that once took years between court dates are now returning within weeks, sometimes every two weeks. “All of this is brand new,” she said, adding that the legal team plans to appeal the removal orders.
Judge cites pending status applications
Judge Shawn Abraham, appearing remotely, ordered the removals because the children’s Special Immigrant Juvenile Status applications do not immediately grant a visa or a path to permanent residency. Even approved applications can face years‑long waits due to annual caps and a backlog.
In one instance, after ordering a 12‑year‑old removed, Abraham told the child, “Sir, stay in contact with your lawyer.” The orders are formal and can be appealed, but they initiate the process that could ultimately lead to deportation.
Political context and local reaction
Advocates describe the hearings as part of an escalating effort by the Trump administration to speed up immigration proceedings involving children, aligning with its broader immigration enforcement agenda. Changes to federal legal‑services programs have also made representation harder for many unaccompanied children.
The hearings drew local officials, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, State Sen. Cristina Castro, and State Rep. Lilian Jiménez. Durbin expressed disappointment, saying the removals conflicted with the administration’s stated focus on dangerous criminals. Jiménez called the situation “an emergency of national significance,” emphasizing that children should not be punished for broader policy issues.
Federal contract changes affect legal aid
Separately, a long‑standing federal contract with the Acacia Center for Justice, which provided legal services to unaccompanied children in Illinois, ended on July 31 and was not renewed. The government proposed a no‑bid contract worth up to $150 million to the Houston‑based Burke Law Group, which declined the offer.
The combination of faster court timelines, limited legal‑services funding, and aggressive removal orders underscores the challenges facing vulnerable children seeking safety in the United States.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
