About Us

Our Mission:

ICARE is a coalition of legal services organizations dedicated to expanding access to legal representation for immigrant children facing deportation in New York City, while advocating for universal access to counsel.

ICARE’s Advisory Council is composed of five legal services organizations: Catholic Charities Community Services, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Legal Aid Society, Safe Passage Project, and The Door.

Our Vision:

We envision a New York City where every immigrant child has access to legal representation in immigration court.

Our Values:

  • We believe in the transformative power of community & partnership, uniting our diverse strengths to create a thriving network of support and collaboration.

  • We embrace innovation & expertise, ensuring that we continually provide quality legal services while pushing for forward-thinking solutions.

  • Our approach is rooted in being client-centered & trauma informed, ensuring that every interaction is empathetic, respectful, and sensitive to the needs of each young person.

  • Advocacy is at the heart of our mission, as we champion the rights, voices and dignity of young immigrants.

  • We are dedicated to fostering autonomy by encouraging young immigrants to make informed decisions and take ownership of their choices.

Why We’re here:

Many of the children we represent leave their home countries because their lives are in danger. They come to the U.S. looking for a better life and opportunities, and after an initial period of detention, some unaccompanied minors are transferred by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to live with “sponsors” in New York State; they are simultaneously entered into removal proceedings.

Every year, nearly 2,000 children – some as young as infants – appear in immigration court in New York City without an attorney. No one, not even a child, is appointed a free lawyer in deportation proceedings. Children who cannot afford an attorney must fend for themselves against a regime that has deemed them “enforcement priorities” and is trying to deport them as quickly as possible.

Immigrant children who seek protection in the United States are thrust into a system of laws and policies developed for adults. The U.S. immigration system is costly, complex and constantly changing, and studies show that, without a lawyer, unaccompanied children stand just a 15 percent chance of winning their deportation cases.

Our Strategies:

Welcome to ICARE, where our mission is to defend and support unaccompanied immigrant children facing deportation in NYC through three core pillars:

Coordination of Legal Services: ICARE facilitates access to legal representation by connecting young immigrants with qualified legal service providers. Through our centralized referral process, we ensure efficient access to critical legal services and comprehensive referrals to community and social services. Our members provide crucial legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children in immigration court proceedings. Children represented by ICARE attorneys have more than a 90 percent success rate and ICARE attorneys have prevented the deportation of over 1,200 young New Yorkers thus far. Attorneys are essential to upholding children’s legal rights in those hearings, assessing their eligibility for humanitarian relief, and guiding case preparation. Together, with our members, we work tirelessly to defend the rights of these vulnerable youth, advocating for their protection and ensuring that they have a fair chance to present their case.

Knowledge and Capacity Building: ICARE streamlines services and reduces inefficiencies for legal service providers through coordination of referrals and creating court efficiencies. We also build the knowledge and capacity of legal service providers working with immigrant youth by offering trainings and access to legal experts. By collaborating with a network of legal service providers, community organizations, and government agencies, we leverage our collective expertise and resources to maximize our impact and reach and to better serve immigrant children and families in need.

Advocacy: ICARE engages in advocacy efforts to address systemic issues affecting immigrant children. We work closely with policymakers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to advocate for policies that guarantee the right to legal counsel for all immigrants and protect the rights and well-being of immigrant youth.

ICARE is dedicated to ensuring that immigrant children in New York City receive the legal support and protection they deserve. Through our comprehensive approach, we strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable youth and advocate for a more just and inclusive society.