Upholding Our Commitment to All Children:
Why New Jersey Needs to Prioritize Legal Representation for Unaccompanied Minors
Your voice makes a difference! Join us in advocating for a better future for unaccompanied children in New Jersey, where the number of released unaccompanied minors from federal custody ranks fifth in the United States.
The New Jersey Legislature is considering budget requests as they work with the Governor’s Proposed Budget for FY2024. We need your support to call on our legislature to prioritize funding for the Legal Representation for Children and Youth Program.
🗣️ Here’s what you need to know:
Governor Murphy’s proposed 2024 budget includes sustained $4.5 million funding for the Legal Services to Unaccompanied Minors to provide legal representation and case management to unaccompanied children and similarly situated youth living in New Jersey. We believe that we can make a real difference in the lives of unaccompanied children in New Jersey by ensuring they receive quality legal representation and support. We recommend an additional allocation of $1.5 million for a total of $6 million for the Legal Representation for Children and Youth Program. This increase is essential to ensure that children receive the quality legal representation they need in their removal defense, as well as the necessary capacity building and training for current legal providers.
🗣️ Contact your Representatives:
Call or email Budget and Appropriations (Budget Hearings) leadership and urge them to support renewed and increased funding for the Legal Representation for Children Program:
Sample Script:
Hello,
My name is [Your Name], and I'm contacting you as a constituent and community advocate to ask for your support for renewing and increasing for the Legal Representation for Children and Youth Program. We are seeking a $1.5 million increase for a total of $6 million for this program. This increase is essential to ensure unaccompanied immigrant children living across the entire state have access to expert legal representation in their defense against deportation back to danger, as well as social services support to give them a fair opportunity to integrate into their communities and thrive in New Jersey. Your support and co-sponsorship of this resolution is vital to the continued provision of these services. Including this renewal and increase in the final budget will ensure children in our state have a meaningful chance for safe and healthy lives in New Jersey.
Can we count on your support for this budget resolution?
Search Your Local Representatives
Learn about the impact of legal representation for New Jersey’s immigrant youth.