Denver Post Highlights Unaccompanied Migrant Children Issue

This past Sunday, the Denver Post ran an article discussing a local effort to mobilize assistance to help out in the present refugee crisis at our border. Managing Attorney, David Kolko, was featured in the report.

The article, available here, discusses how local attorneys and non-governmental organizations are coordinating efforts to provide assistance to children who end up in Colorado. Mr. Kolko, as the current Chair of the Colorado Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA Colorado”), is working to orchestrate relief efforts for these children. While no formal announcement has been made about any large number of children ending up in Colorado, it is certain that some children will end up in Colorado, reunited with family members as an alternative to being kept in an immigration detention facility. Additionally, the City and County of Denver has applied for federal funding to convert a local treatment facility into a facility for housing unaccompanied minor children.

The vast majority of these children will end up in deportation proceedings. Their stay in the United States will be considered temporary unless they are found eligible for some sort of relief to remain in the U.S. AILA Colorado, along with other organizations, is working hard to find local attorneys to serve some of these children on a pro bono basis.

“The vast majority of these children are coming here because they are terrified. We are preparing to assist these children,” Mr. Kolko was quoted as stating. AILA Colorado has been actively training and recruiting volunteer attorneys to help these children and the attorneys at Kolko & Associates are answering the call for help.