On Saturday, November 15th from 11 to 3 p.m., the Young Center, @indivisible.org, and @workerscircle.bsky.social will come together at Joyce Kilmer Park in a citywide day of community solidarity and action to protect immigrant children and youth from ICE enforcement.

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.

This is NOT okay and flies in the face of decades of shared belief that places that care for children should be safe havens: Child care worker detained by #ICE inside a Chicago day care as children watched 19thnews.org/2025/11/chil... via @19thnews.org

"It is absurd and horrific that [ICE] have now targeted our day care centers.” Via @19thnews.org

On graduation day, ICE deported two Louisiana high school students with SIJS. Elias* and Brayan* were living in Louisiana when they accompanied their father to a routine immigration appointment, where ICE detained them. (1/3)

Yup. @theyoungcenter.bsky.social warned about this. We've *been* warning about it since people started pushing for these wellness checks in Trump 1.0. We knew they'd be used to target family members. ICE/CBP should never be allowed to conduct "wellness checks." They only use them to abuse.

Accompaniment is central to the Young Center’s mission. Our programs uphold this core tenet by offering unwavering support to immigrant children who find themselves in government custody or living in communities where they face separation from their families.

"[Halloween] is an exercise in civic trust, a belief in one’s neighbors regardless of religion, creed or political party. It’s a cheesy, cheery, schmaltzy, “Brady Bunch” optimism. My family and countless others have crossed oceans for it." #HappyHalloween ya'll. 🎃👻 Via @msnbc.com

#WeAreHiring: The Young Center is Hiring! Interested in making a difference in the lives of immigrant children and their families? Apply today at ➡️ www.theyoungcenter.org/about/careers

In 2018, the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy tore thousands of children from their parents. Years later, many remain separated. Our report highlights new government records and the struggle to end a troubling immigration policy, shedding light on a dark chapter in U.S. history.

Pritzker: "Imagine it. Children who woke up that morning, expectant with joy & excitement to put on their costumes & celebrate with their neighbors in what they thought was a safe place at their homes. Armed, masked agents, terrorizing innocent people, especially children, is unconscionable."

Andrea Soria...overheard her 6-year-old whisper to her dolls: “We have to be good or ICE will get us,” referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Absolutely heartbreaking. Children should feel safe in their communities, able to play and be children. Not live in fear. Via @apnews.com

“We had reached the end of our journey … and our hopes were completely shattered. I can’t necessarily call it a betrayal, but the fact that they didn’t interview us, ask about our fears or why we fled our country. It all seemed very cruel.” Via @apnews.com

Children have voices, hearts, dreams and futures that should be cared for. Their lives matter, and they deserve to feel cared for, seen, and valued.

For oddincense on tumblr, and for their partner who also donated, two birds! Chimney Swift, and Hooded Warbler. Phew! Thanks to both of you, and to everyone else, for #Waymakers 2025! That's 37 birds done to raise funds for @theyoungcenter.bsky.social - you're all incredible! 🎨🪶 #BirdArt #SciArt

The Ms. L settlement promised to repair some of the damage done to children and parents who endured intentional separation under the first Trump administration’s punitive “zero-tolerance” policy. However, once-separated families are now at risk of being split up a second time.

Last week, we gathered with our NYC community to reflect, connect, and stand in solidarity - board members, volunteers, team members, and supporters - all united by one purpose: to champion the rights and best interests of immigrant children amid mounting attacks on our communities.

“Her children were traumatized and her youngest was especially traumatized. That bond was broken during detention and that left a permanent impression on her children.” via @19thnews.org

On Oct. 13, Fidel chose to self-deport—leaving behind his wife, Jennifer, and their U.S. citizen children. No family should ever have to choose between safety and being together. Families belong together. youtu.be/rIg_FgTS64w?...

“Our federal government is enacting violence on people every day that young people are seeing over and over on social media, on cable news, and all over their computer systems. And this has to stop.” Via @spokesmanrecorder.bsky.social

Rest in power and art, Tony.

“Kids want to feel like nothing’s going to happen to them, and that you as an adult are going to do everything you can to keep them safe." Here are 10 practical tips for talking to kids about ICE raids and helping them cope with fear and uncertainty. Via @lataco.bsky.social

“They set these big dream goals for the future, but then they also are stuck in this present. They’re like, ‘Can I just be a kid or do I have to all of a sudden be an adult?’”

Care and respect can change a child’s world. Every child, no matter where they come from, deserves to feel protected and not afraid.

Every little bit of kindness matters <3

Very helpful visuals of ICE's enormous expansion due to the BBB by @motherjones.com : www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Rev. Gary Graf, a Chicago Heights Catholic priest, began a 50-day pilgrimage Monday from Pope Leo’s boyhood home in Dolton to New York to bring attention to the cause of immigrant children. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/06/c...

Let's remember: Children have rights too, and they deserve to feel acknowledged, listened to, and valued.

If you have seen a pregnant, postpartum, or lactating woman in immigration custody, please let the Women's Refugee Commission know by submitting a report through the Detention Pregnancy Tracker. austinkocher.substack.com/p/the-womens...

Health care workers should be able to focus on saving lives — not preparing for ICE raids. https://bit.ly/46tIUmD

No matter their background, every child deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. Their voices matter!

CTAN's own @wendydcervantes.bsky.social at @clasp.org writes in @washingtonpost.com : Immigration actions harm kids. DHS has a responsibility to preserve the rights of parents, no matter who is in the White House. #PostLetters

Listen to "The Forgotten Family Separation Crisis", my Discussion with Ashley DeAzevedo and Anna Lekas Miller About Mixed-Status Couples austinkocher.substack.com/p/listen-to-...

With the support from our Waymakers, we were able to raise over $84,595 and walk 28,742 miles across 40 states and 3 countries 🤍 We are incredibly THANKFUL to all the 537 participants that formed 75 teams, as well as our sponsors, staff, and volunteers who came out during the month of September.

"Why don't they just apply for citizenship?" This is a question often directed toward undocumented immigrants living in the United States. But the pathway to American citizenship for the vast majority is long, complex, and financially draining.

Thank you, Melanie Hicken at @cnn.com , for telling the stories of American kids impacted by immigration actions. The investigation found 100+ US citizen children were left without parents due to Trump’s deportation efforts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ywd...

We’re incredibly grateful to our amazing sponsors for supporting this year’s Waymakers Virtual Mileage Challenge 🤍 Your kindness and support of the Young Center doesn't go unnoticed! THANK YOU 😊

As our Waymakers Virtual Mileage Challenge winds down today, we’re inspired by everyone who walked in solidarity for immigrant children. Your steps have made a meaningful impact, and we deeply appreciate your dedication! #BeAWaymaker

Last 09/18, our staff and board members joined our partners in Washington, D.C. We spent time on the Hill educating congressional staffers about the ongoing separation of immigrant families & harm to children. We also walked & honored their journey to the U.S. as part of our Mileage Challenge.

We joined 23 organizations urging an end to recent ICE and Homeland Security Investigations interviews of unaccompanied children in government custody. Read more 👇

Every child deserves a safe repatriation when returning to their home country. This means a process that protects their rights, ensures their well-being, & involves proper planning, resources & support. This should always be the standard for all children. Read our blog to learn more: bit.ly/42NGFIz

Every child deserves freedom and safety 🤍 Juan and his mother traveled 1,500 miles from El Salvador to find refuge but was turned away at the U.S. Border while his mother was kidnapped in Mexico. Juan continued his journey alone and was later placed into government custody.

Check out episode seven of NAWL’s Bridging Divides series, featuring Kelly Albinak Kribs, Young Center Technical Assistance Program Co-Director, about the organization’s mission and its work supporting immigrant children.

Happening NOW at the National Immigration Summit, Melissa Stek leads the conversation on effective messaging on children and immigrant families! @clasp.org @theyoungcenter.bsky.social @pifcoalition.bsky.social

The National Immigration Summit is happening NOW! Thank you to our panelists for sharing resources and leading the discussion on policies impacting immigrant children and families! #forchildren @wendydcervantes.bsky.social @pifcoalition.bsky.social @theyoungcenter.bsky.social @the-ilrc.bsky.social

DACA has always been lawful. Now, it's facing its biggest threat yet, with DHS ignoring DACA protections and detaining DACA recipients. Our Immigrant Youth Abduction Tracker is exposing the truth: nearly 20 DACA recipients & dozens more immigrant youth are detained. HomeIsHere.us/tracker

"A CLASP study from 2018 found that children as young as 3 experienced behavioral changes–like frequent crying, separation anxiety, and sleep problems–due to the loss of a parent or the fear of losing a parent. www.clasp.org/publications...

A few weeks ago in New York, over 100 people packed a courtroom in a powerful show of solidarity for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). Their presence was a strong reminder that the voices of immigrant youth matter, and their rights are important too 🤍

Our Chief Program Officer Jennifer Nagda will be speaking at the 10 year anniversary of the ABA Children’s Immigration Law Academy on Sept. 23 at 2:00 p.m. as part of a roundtable discussion with experts working with unaccompanied youth. RSVP: americanbar.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Our children deserve to grow up surrounded by the safety and security of their loved ones, never in fear that this basic right could be taken away.