GEORGETOWN, Del. - La Esperanza, a Sussex County nonprofit that has served the immigrant community for nearly 30 years, is facing serious challenges to its unaccompanied children's legal aid program after recent federal funding cuts affected the support it secured last year.
The organization had been using those funds to operate a program that provides free legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children. But now, that support is in jeopardy.
La Esperanza is currently handling 60 cases involving unaccompanied immigrant children, who are youth who come to the U.S., usually across the border, either alone or with someone who is not their parent, and are placed with a sponsor somewhere in the country, often a relative.
Bryant García, acting executive director of La Esperanza, said without the organization's help, children face significant challenges navigating the immigration system.
"This program is important because it's breaking down and taking down one of those barriers, the cost of legal services. These children are getting legal services completely free, and they're getting representation in court. So that means that we go to court with them. We're, talking to the judge on their behalf, representing them," he said.
Immigration court cases can take years to resolve.
"Even tough we have 60 children, these are children that we may be representing, and we'll need to represent over the next four or five, maybe even six years," García said.
Without sufficient funding, García said, children may be put in a tough spot.
"If they don't have anyone to support them to pay for that, they have to find ways to pay for it, and it may require them to go work and to find work if they don't have legal status. If they don't have work authorization. It puts them in a vulnerable position in that they may be using fake documents to do work that could be dangerous or work that can be very hard for a child," he said.
García added that on average, the cost per case can range from $8,000 to $10,000 over the life of the case.
"We want to continue to represent these children, for as long as possible regardless of what federal funding is available," García said. "Any type of donation is helpful."
For those who would like to donate, La Esperanza says contributions can be made online or in person at its office at 216 North Race St. in Georgetown.