Unaccompanied Minors Appear In New York Immigration Court

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Dozens of children facing deportation are expected to appear in New York immigration court on Thursday.

The more than 60 unaccompanied minors, who illegally crossed the border from Central America, were sent to New York from Texas.

Some of the children arrived in the U.S. when they were as young as three, WCBS 880′s Peter Haskell reported.

“These are kids who have experienced child abuse or sexual abuse in the household, or severe neglect, abandonment,” said Claire Thomas of the Safe Passage Project, which serves as an advocate for the children in immigration court. “You might imagine it’s really scary if you’re little and you don’t speak that language to understand what’s going on in the court room.”

The children are facing deportation and the burden of proof lies on them, Thomas said.

“It’s on the child to prove that they have the legal right to remain in this country,” Thomas said.

Thursday’s hearing is just one step in what could be a yearlong process… http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/07/10/unaccompanied-minors-to-appear-in-new-york-immigration-court/#.U77kDD6WSbI.twitter