Describes the experiences of refugee children facing court proceedings to determine whether they will be deported from the United States. Some children came to the U.S. fleeing violence or even murder, others were seeking escape from economic deprivation, and still others were simply abandoned. Their situation, after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., has become more tenuous, as heightened security measures threaten to undermine a long-standing tradition of protecting juveniles. On any given day, about 500 children are in detention awaiting a decision on their petitions for special status. Some cities are following the example of New York and setting aside a special monthly docket for juveniles at immigration court. Since juveniles do not have a right to court-appointed counsel in immigration matters, only those whose cases have legal merit receive help from a volunteer lawyer. Moreover, applications for special immigration juvenile status can drag on for years and sometimes fail because time has run out. Applications also can be forgotten as refugee children in foster care move through a shifting roster of caseworkers, agencies, and group homes. The future outlook is not encouraging.
