Children Without Legal Representation

If you wish to know what takes place when people of Mexico face a judge to determine their fate? Here is a partial story of Lucy and a few children facing and immigration judge in Tucson, AZ. These children do not have legal representation as funding was cut by Tru_p and his administration.

This story is relatively recent (December 3, 2025). I do not doubt it authenticity or accuracy. It is one issue to not wanting immigrants. It is another to deny them legal representation forcing minors to represent themselves. The link comes after the initial story.

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One Story

“Three-year-old Lucy approached the lawyer’s table wearing a multi-colored and floral dress and bright red pants. 

The child, barely old enough to talk, was one of 25 immigrant children forced to fight removal efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the Pima County immigration courthouse in Tucson on Nov. 24. 

Unable to reach the chair on her own, Lucy was lifted into the seat by Ana Islas, a lawyer with the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project (FIRRP), a nonprofit providing legal services to immigrants. 

Islas pulled out a brown teddy bear to ease the toddler’s nerves while she faced Judge Irene C. Feldman. Islas is not formally representing Lucy. Ana provided Feldman with information regarding Lucy’s case due to her age and inability to understand immigration proceedings.

Lucy and the other unaccompanied minors who are fighting removal orders must appear in front of the judge, many without the help of a lawyer, to defend themselves from accusations of illegal entry into the US.

At Lucy’s first hearing in August, an attorney with FIRRP explained that despite a desire to assist the child, the nonprofit lost most of their federal funding in March after the Trump administration terminated contracts. As a result of the funding cuts, the group is unable to take on new clients despite continued demand for their legal services.

Feldman postponed Lucy’s case to November to give her more time to find a lawyer. While she has been unable to do so, Islas informed the judge last week that the shelter Lucy is housed in has made progress in reuniting her with a potential sponsor in the US. They are optimistic Lucy will perhaps be able to reunite with a family member soon. It is unclear where Lucy’s parents are.

‘I hope Lucy gets to safety,’ Judge Feldman said before postponing her next hearing to March 2026.”

Three-year-old child forced to serve as her own attorney in Tucson immigration court, Copper Courier

Children without counsel

After hearing from the children with counsel and Lucy, a security guard brought in scores of unrepresented children to begin their fight against removal proceedings. 

By the time he arrived in court last week, Nezvid, a 15-year-old from Mexico, had lost hope. When Judge Feldman asked if he had any questions regarding his case, Nezvid promptly replied, in Spanish, “How can I go to Mexico?”

Judge Feldman recommended he weigh the decision a little longer, but Nezvid remained firm in his desire to return home. As a result, Judge Feldman scheduled his next hearing for Dec. 8 to expedite the process of getting him home.

The judge asked Carlos, 15, if he needed more time to find an attorney. Speaking via a Spanish-to-English interpreter, Carlos said, “Yes, because you gave me time last time, and I looked, and it’s not easy to find an attorney.”

“Well, you’ve had time. This is your fifth scheduled hearing,” Judge Feldman said before asking McLean if DHS had any objections to granting the child more time. 

With no objection, the judge granted the request and informed Carlos if he did not obtain counsel by his next court hearing, scheduled for Sept. 2026, she would move forward with removal proceedings, and he’d have to represent himself in court.

Elissa, a 13-year old girl from Mexico, informed the judge she had no luck in finding legal representation. After answering a few clarifying questions for the Judge, McLean recommended the girl be removed to Mexico, prompting the judge to ask if she fears returning.

“Si,” yes, she replied. She was given an asylum packet before returning to her seat.

Alida, a 17-year-old girl from Guatemala and Jonathan, another 17-year-old, were also offered asylum packets and instructed to send the application to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Chicago.

Only one child, Xonson, a 17-year-old who is presumed to have run away from the shelter, according to McLean, was ordered removed by Feldman after failing to appear in court multiple times.

Deeper issues

Most of the children were granted extensions to give them additional time to find a lawyer, but a deeper issue persists regardless of the extensions—many of these detained minors do not have the resources to obtain and pay for the legal representation they need to fight removal proceedings.

Without a mechanism to provide these children with support, the chances of them returning to court without legal counsel again is high. 

That will result in more dystopian scenes like three-year-old Lucy facing an immigration judge, backed by the full power of the US government and with the ability to determine the course of the child’s life. 

After her hearing ended, Lucy cuddled her teddy bear as she walked back from the lawyer’s table and took a seat.

Moments later, the next child was called up to face the judge.