NYC Sets Up a Help Desk for Unaccompanied Children

New York City has set up a help desk in federal immigration court to put unaccompanied children in touch with educational and health services.

Three workers from the departments of Education and Health were sitting at a desk in the hallway of Immigration Court in downtown Manhattan this week in front of the room where unaccompanied children meet with pro bono lawyers. In addition to legal help, the kids are assisted with school and health insurance enrollment.

Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, said it was the best way to connect the children to services. “Instead of the kids having to go to the different agencies, the agencies would essentially come to them where they are,” she said.

Agarwal said the city will also show up on weekends at public schools whose populations include a large number of students from Central America.

In the first seven months of 2014, 1,350 unaccompanied children have been placed with family members and sponsors in New York City