U.S. immigration courts don't automatically appoint lawyers, even for children as young as four. A parent's presence isn't legal representation. Families must find and pay for private counsel or their children will face complex proceedings alone.
In immigration court, the government does not automatically give you a lawyer. Not even if you're a child. Some children facing immigration proceedings are as young as 4 years old. They may have a parent, relative, or sponsor sitting beside them, but that does not mean that they have a lawyer representing them. A child can be too young to read the paperwork in front of them, but still not be guaranteed an attorney to help them through it. If a child in your family has an immigration court date, do not assume that someone will be appointed to represent them. Get legal help. Because no child should have to navigate immigration court without someone who understands the law standing beside them.
