Melissa Adamson
@melissaadamson.bsky.social
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Attorney at the National Center for Youth Law (
@youthlaw.bsky.social
). Views are my own.
reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights
11 days ago
The places where our children grow, dream, and belong should always be protected. They deserve to feel safe in spaces that are made for them.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
11 days ago
ICE plans a 24/7 hotline to "track down" unaccompanied kids. NCYL's Neha Desai: âThese children are then re-detained in a system that has become nearly impossible to exit.â Children deserve care and stability, not surveillance and fear.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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ICE Contract Would Help the Police Track Down Immigrant Children
Advocates fear the move would increase the number of family separations.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-06/ice-considers-a-call-center-to-help-police-track-down-immigrant-children
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
about 2 months ago
đ¨ Together, NCYL and
@acaciajustice.bsky.social
released companion reports exposing recent ORR policy changes preventing unaccompanied childrenâs release from custody and highlighting the devastating consequences of these childrenâs prolonged custody. Read more:
youthlaw.org/news/two-new...
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
about 2 months ago
đ¨ BREAKING: A district court has blocked the Trump admin from expelling Guatemalan children from the U.S. without due process. Every child deserves safety, dignity, and healing. We are proud to represent these children with
@nilc.org
and
@icapgeorgetown.bsky.social
.
youthlaw.org/news/advocat...
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Anna Bower
2 months ago
Judge Kelly asked about Drew Ensignâs prior representation that âall of these children have their parents or guardians in Guatemala who are requesting their return.â Sarah Welch, for DOJ, agreed to withdraw that claim, saying she âcanât affirmatively represent that that is correct.â
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
3 months ago
Today is a win for due process, but this never should have happened. This admin's attempt to remove hundreds of kids in the dead of night and circumvent the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act is shameful. The courts were right to step in.
www.cbsnews.com/news/guatema...
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Judge blocks deportation of Guatemalan migrant children as flights were ready to take off
The plaintiffs in this case are 10 migrant children between the ages of 10 and 17 who entered the U.S. without authorization and without their parents or legal guardians.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/guatemala-children-deportation-judge-ruling/
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Murshed Zaheed
4 months ago
âUnaccompanied children are being used as pawns in an effort to deport as many people as possible, regardless of the human toll it takes on the most vulnerable members of our community.â - Neha Desai from
@youthlaw.bsky.social
Big scoop from
@cnn.com
's Priscilla Alvarez âď¸
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Exclusive: Trump administration moves to rapidly deport migrant children, asking teens if they want to leave | CNN Politics
The Trump administration is moving to rapidly deport some migrant children who arrived in the US without a parent or guardian by having federal agents ask teens whether they want to voluntarily depart...
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/23/politics/migrant-kids-self-deport
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
5 months ago
I donât think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE. This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined. It is setting up to make whatâs happening now look like childâs play. And people are disappearing.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
5 months ago
Detaining families in unlicensed, unregulated facilities for an unlimited time is a human rights violationâplain and simple. The Senate budget bill enables that cruelty. âđ˝ Children deserve care, not cages. đ˘ Tell Congress: NO on the budget bill.
youthlaw.org/voteno
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
5 months ago
The Senate budget bill lets the government detain immigrant families indefinitely in unlicensed facilities. This is a direct threat to childrenâs health and safety. Congress must reject this cruelty. đ˘ Tell Congress: NO on the budget bill.
youthlaw.org/voteno
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If you have been wondering how you can help in this moment, here is a place to start: The Senate budget bill guts key protections for detained immigrant children and allows indefinite family detention in unlicensed facilities. Tell Congress to vote NO on the budget bill đ
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5 months ago
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
5 months ago
đ¨ The Senate budget bill puts immigrant children in grave danger. It guts key protections, allows indefinite family detention in unlicensed facilities, and increases childrenâs risk of abuse, and exploitation. đ˘ Tell Congress: NO on the budget bill.
youthlaw.org/voteno
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Marc Elias
5 months ago
Shouldnât the NY Times headline note that this new policy breaks the law?
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
5 months ago
BREAKING: Flores counsel â NCYL,
@chrclla.bsky.social
⏠&
@childrens-rights.bsky.social
⏠â filed a motion to enforce protections for immigrant children, exposing prolonged detention, filthy conditions, family separation & abuse. The gov't is failing children. Read more:
youthlaw.org/news/amid-go...
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Amid Governmentâs Efforts to Terminate Flores, Counsel File Motion to Enforce Agreement, Citing Prolonged Detention of Children and 'Culture of Cruelty' | National Center for Youth Law
Flores Counsel yesterday evening filed a motion to enforce the Settlement, citing the governmentâs prolonged detention of children, which has compounded the harm of other ongoing violations,âŚ
https://youthlaw.org/news/amid-governments-efforts-terminate-flores-counsel-file-motion-enforce-agreement-citing
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Last week: The Trump admin went to court to end basic humanitarian standards for children in immigration custody. This week: A pregnant mother and her family - including an 11-month old - were held by CBP for 24 days in a windowless cell. When someone shows you their plan, believe them.
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6 months ago
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
6 months ago
đ Today, the Trump administration filed a motion in court to end the Flores Settlement - an agreement that provides basic safeguards for the treatment of children in federal immigration custody. Why does this matter? Letâs break it down: đ§ľđ
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
6 months ago
In a widely-expected move, the Trump admin is making yet another effort to terminate the Flores Settlement, which since the 1990s has imposed limitations on the government's treatment of children in immigration detention. They lost every effort to do this in Trump's first term.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
6 months ago
NEW: Today, the Trump admin filed to end the Flores Settlement-an agreement that provides basic safeguards for children in federal immigration custody. We,
@chrclla.bsky.social
&
@childrens-rights.bsky.social
will keep fighting to defend these childrenâs health & safety.
youthlaw.org/news/trump-a...
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Trump administration moves to end settlement that protects immigrant children; Flores counsel vow to defend vital safeguards | National Center for Youth Law
Today, the Trump administration filed a motion to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, which for years has set the standards for the humane treatment of immigrant children in government custody,...
https://youthlaw.org/news/trump-administration-moves-end-settlement-protects-immigrant-children-flores-counsel-vow
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
6 months ago
If Trump can undermine due process for immigrants here legally, he can do the same to you. What happens when he disagrees with you? What happens if he doesnât like what you say? Heâll come after you just like he has to so many others. We must stand up for our collective rights.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Mishan Wroe
6 months ago
Deeply grateful to the brave children and their families who made this case possible.
@youthlaw.bsky.social
is ready to keep fighting to get these kids home to their families.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
6 months ago
BREAKING: Immigrant children are being detained in U.S. custody for monthsâeven when their families are ready to bring them home. NCYL and
@democracyforward.org
just filed a class action lawsuit against HHS to stop it. Read more here:
youthlaw.org/news/new-law...
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New Lawsuit Challenges âPaperwork Barrierâ Keeping Immigrant Children Separated from Family and Detained in Government Custody | National Center for Youth Law
Washington, D.C. â Today, children and an immigrant defense organization represented by the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) and Democracy Forward filed a class action complaint in the U.S. Distri...
https://youthlaw.org/news/new-lawsuit-challenges-paperwork-barrier
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Murshed Zaheed
6 months ago
"Children in government care are now isolatedâfrom their families, from lawyers and other professionals who can help them ..." Trump regimeâs polices are prolonging children detention & making it nearly impossible for many families to reunite. Cruelty is always their point.
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Immigrant Kids Trapped in U.S. Custody: The Hidden Crisis Inside the Office of Refugee Resettlement
A new form of family separation has been quietly engineered at the Office of Refugee Resettlementâs Unaccompanied Minors program, the HHS office responsible for the care and custody of immigrant child...
https://msmagazine.com/2025/05/02/immigrant-kids-trapped-in-u-s-custody-the-hidden-crisis-inside-the-office-of-refugee-resettlement/
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
7 months ago
The reconciliation package would also charge anyone who wants to sponsor an unaccompanied child out of an ORR shelter $8,500(!), of which $5,000 would be reimbursed years later if the child was not ordered deported "in absentia" for missing court. That's a price that would stop nearly all sponsors.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights
7 months ago
Children, no matter where they come from, deserve to live free from fear, with their families, safe in their communities. No child should ever dread going to school or outside to play thinking that ICE might deport them or their loved ones.
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Fear Shadows Many Children in Immigrant Families
Heightened immigration enforcement is stirring anxiety among children whose parents are vulnerable to deportation. âEvery day I worry they could take my mom.â
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/12/us/fear-shadows-many-children-in-immigrant-families.html
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
7 months ago
Because of the administration's harmful cuts to legal services funding for kids, immigrant children are left without support and representation. Our own Neha Desai, Managing Director of Children's Rights and Human Dignity, spoke with
@cnn.com
:
edition.cnn.com/2025/04/17/p...
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âRailroad kids through the systemâ: Immigration courtâs youngest left to their own devices | CNN Politics
Every week, Evelyn Flores travels to government shelters in the Washington, DC, region for story time with migrant children, telling the tale of a cartoon cat learning to navigate a confusing immigrat...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/17/politics/immigration-court-minors/index.html
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Rep. Jamie Raskin
7 months ago
Trumpâs State Department found no evidence linking Rumeysa Ozturk to antisemitic activity or terrorism, but ICE snatched her off the street and dispatched her to a prison 1,000 miles away with no hearing. This is a hallmark of fascist regimes and utterly incompatible with Due Process.
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No evidence linking Tufts student to antisemitism or terrorism, State Dept. office found
An internal memo, prepared before Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk was detained by ICE, raises doubts about the Trump administrationâs claims that she supports Hamas.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/04/13/tufts-student-rumeysa-ozturk-rubio-trump/
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Steve Vladeck
7 months ago
Even if you (wrongly) believe that some immigrants lack due process rights, whatâs to stop the government from claiming that *you* are an undocumented immigrant; removing you to El Salvador; citing an âadministrative errorâ; and refusing to do anything to bring you back? The answer is due process.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
8 months ago
Now more than ever, defending the rights and safety of unaccompanied children is critical. In
@hirono.senate.gov
's press release, NCYL's
@melissaadamson.bsky.social
highlights the importance of this vital bill...
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Big thanks to
@hirono.senate.gov
for being a champion for unaccompanied children! đ Legal representation is absolutely critical to ensuring these children's safety and welfare.
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8 months ago
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Go jumbos! đđ
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8 months ago
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Chris Hayes
8 months ago
This is a fantastic piece of rigorous, in-depth reporting. It will make you want to pass out with rage. But definitely read it.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
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The men disappeared to El Salvador because of their tattoos
The Trump administration sent Venezuelans to El Salvadorâs most infamous prison. Their families are looking for answers.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/trump-el-salvador-venezulea-deportation-prison-cecot-bukele/
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Proud to be a Berkeley Law alum
#gobears
đť
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8 months ago
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
ElieNYC
8 months ago
Again, the fascism is already upon us.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
Immigrant Defenders Law Center
8 months ago
No child should ever face a heartless immigration system without a lawyer by their side. Swipe through to learn how to take action. Take action:
tinyurl.com/protect-kids
Learn more:
tinyurl.com/ucpwebinar
Support us:
immdef.org/donate
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Immigrant Justice Center
9 months ago
Today the Trump administration abruptly cut funding for lawyers working with unaccompanied immigrant children. This action threatens to unlawfully deprive ~26k kids of legal representation during their immigration proceedings. NIJC's executive director responds:
immigrantjustice.org/press-releas...
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Trump administration ends legal services funding for unaccompanied immigrant children
Congress must act to stop unlawful freeze of programs that help children navigate the U.S. immigration system Statement of National Immigrant Justice Center Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy:
https://immigrantjustice.org/press-releases/trump-administration-ends-legal-services-funding-unaccompanied-immigrant-children
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
10 months ago
Today, we're in court with co-counsel â Children's Rights & the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law â to fight to keep protections for children held in federal immigration custody. These protections are needed now more than ever.
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
10 months ago
We stand alongside our partners in condemning the passage of the
#LakenRileyAct
â legislation that will gravely harm children. Subjecting anyone â especially youth â to mandatory imprisonment without a charge or conviction is unprecedented and horrifying.
childrenthriveaction.org/2025/01/chil...
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Childrenâs Groups Outraged by Passage of Laken Riley Act and Call on Policymakers to Advocate for All Children - Children Thrive Action Network
Contact: Tom Salyers, Director of Communications,
[email protected]
Members of the Children Thrive Action Network (CTAN) are gravely concerned about the harm the Laken Riley Act, which Congress passe...
https://childrenthriveaction.org/2025/01/childrens-groups-outraged-by-passage-of-laken-riley-act-and-call-on-policymakers-to-advocate-for-all-children/
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
10 months ago
The Laken Riley Act just passed Congress. Here is our statement:
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
10 months ago
The
#LakenRileyAct
will lead to the arrest and indefinite, mandatory detention of immigrant children in dangerous facilities - without charges or any judicial finding. We urge Reps to vote NO. Watch our conversation with Senator Jeff Merkley to learn more:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkq6...
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Conversation with National Center for Youth Law â Major Flaws in Laken Riley Act
YouTube video by Senator Jeff Merkley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkq60IOnBLo
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
10 months ago
The
#LakenRileyAct
will inflict grave harm on undocumented children and youth. We know it will lead to the detention of children in dangerous facilities, even without them being convicted of a crime. There are many ways this could impact youth. A thread⌠1/5
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reposted by
Melissa Adamson
National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
10 months ago
The
#LakenRileyAct
will lead to the arrest and indefinite, mandatory detention of immigrant children in dangerous facilities - without any judicial finding that a criminal offense has been committed. We urge U.S. Senators to vote NO. Ask them to vote no:
https://buff.ly/3q6rF2s
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