Should Children be Expected to Represent Themselves in U.S. Immigration Court?

Question

Currently the United States has no law requiring lawyers be provided to anyone facing immigration court. This has resulted in very young children regularly having to represent themselves before a judge. The ACLU has a very short video on it I recommend watching, but I’ve screen-capped the most relevant parts:

To watch in full please search: ACLU CAN TODDLERS REALLY REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN IMMIGRATION COURT?

Accepted Answer

I'm 23 years old and would not feel comfortable representing myself period. Kids shouldn't have to. Why can't these children have adequate representation? Oh right. The US sucks.

Answer

The fact that this even needs to be discussed is abhorrent (nothing against OP at all). I just am embarrassed that my country feels this is the appropriate way to help defenseless children.

Answer

Children should never be expected to represent themselves in any court, especially not like that! They probably don’t know anything about the court system, they are scared and might not even be fluent in the language spoken (even with a translator there are too many ways for this to go wrong based on language barriers). I mean what does it say about a country/the world that we leave CHILDREN to fight for themselves instead of trying our best to help them to a better life.

Answer

Who the hell said yes? Gtfo

Answer

this is disgraceful 😥 looking a child in the eye and telling them you have to represent yourself and your mommy and daddy will be separated from you... unbelievable... our country has no soul

Answer

I can’t imagine representing myself as an adult. No, children should not be expected to do this. They should’ve provided lawyers and legal aide as necessary. 
Everyday I’m more and more disappointed in our country. This is terrible.

Answer

I'm 21. I wouldn't entirely feel comfortable representing myself in court. I have trouble understanding laws the way they're written. I don't understand how a small child who may or may not speak/understand English could not only comprehend laws, but represent themselves against lawyers and to judges who have been doing this shit for decade(s). Children are smarter than we give them credit for, but smarter than a lawyer? I doubt it. What four year olds is this person teaching? There's also a difference between teaching in comprehensible terms and throwing a child to the wolves.

Answer

Wtf. Who expects children to represent themselves in court when grown adults can’t even effectively do it unless they’ve studied law?? 🤦🏻‍♀️the treatment of people in this country is just ridiculous. And what’s even worse is the ignorant people who will support it saying tHEy ShoULDnt HaVE CaMe HEre IllEGaLy 😑

Answer

Lmaoo! That quote is hilarious. My 3 year old can barely understand my house rules, much less federal laws 😂

Answer

Honestly I can't imagine how much information and stress such young children have to comprehend while knowing how much risk is there. That's so so wrong.

Should Children be Expected to Represent Themselves in U.S. Immigration Court?

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