Legal Aid Gaps Leave Missouri, Immigrant Children Unrepresented

Children affected by incarceration and immigration detention face significant emotional, psychological, and legal challenges. In Australia, efforts are underway to support children of incarcerated adults and juvenile detainees in their reintegration into society. The Trump administration's 2018 family separation policy led to traumatic separations at the U.S.-Mexico border, with over 5,500 children detained and many families still separated due to poor tracking and reunification processes. Legal representation for children in immigration court is critical but has faced interruptions, including funding stoppages under the Trump administration, which a federal court has ruled against, mandating resumed payments to legal service providers. Meanwhile, in Missouri, parents like Megan Knight face difficulties reuniting with children in foster care due to underfunded and decentralized legal representation systems. These intersecting issues highlight systemic gaps in protecting children's rights and well-being amid incarceration, detention, and family separation.