Bipartisan Lawmakers Propose Bill for Specialized Immigration Court for Unaccompanied Minors

Bill Aims to Improve Due Process and Expedite Cases for Unaccompanied Minors, Amid Concerns of Over 2 Million Backlogged Immigration Cases and Reports of Child Labor Exploitation of Immigrant Children.

• Bipartisan lawmakers, led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), introduced the Immigration Court Efficiency and Children's Court Act, aiming to establish a separate immigration court solely for unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. illegally.
• The proposal arises amidst concerns over the large backlog of immigration cases, with more than 2 million pending, and reports of child labor exploitation involving immigrant children. The new court aims to expedite legal procedures, such as work documentation and asylum proceedings, for these children.
• The bill also seeks to improve the treatment of unaccompanied children during court proceedings by providing special training for court employees to understand the unique circumstances faced by these children.
• The proposal addresses worries over minors being forced to represent themselves against government lawyers in complex legal matters. The bill aims to ensure proper legal representation for children and help them understand their court proceedings.
• Despite this initiative, the passage of the bill remains uncertain due to Congress' divide on immigration issues. However, the bipartisan and bicameral nature of the bill provides some optimism for its supporters.

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