The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand its Immigrant Legal Defense Program to cover unaccompanied migrant children, ensuring they will not have to face immigration court proceedings without legal support. The vote, which passed 4-1 on Tuesday, marks a significant step in addressing the urgent need for representation for vulnerable children navigating the complex immigration system.
The Immigrant Legal Defense Program was first introduced in 2021 to provide legal assistance for immigrants facing court proceedings. With the new expansion, unaccompanied migrant children in San Diego County will now receive the same protection. Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer said the decision was rooted in fairness and justice, stressing that expecting a child to face an immigration judge and federal prosecutor alone, in a language they may not understand, is not only unrealistic but deeply unjust.
The expansion comes at a critical time as federal funding for legal representation of unaccompanied minors is set to expire at the end of this month. According to Lawson-Remer’s office, more than 300 unaccompanied migrant children are currently in San Diego County. Without this local action, those children would have been forced to represent themselves in immigration court beginning October 1, a situation advocates say would have been devastating.
Supervisor Jim Desmond, who has often expressed skepticism about local involvement in immigration issues, said that while he does not generally support such programs, children should not be left to face such challenges on their own. “These are kids, and they should not have to suffer alone or go through these proceedings alone,” Desmond stated before the vote. His comments signaled bipartisan recognition of the vulnerability of minors caught in immigration proceedings.
Supervisor Joel Anderson, however, cast the only dissenting vote. Anderson argued that immigration is a federal responsibility and that San Diego should not shoulder the burden of funding such efforts. He pointed out that out of California’s 58 counties, San Diego is the only one proposing such a program, suggesting that other counties recognize the issue belongs to federal authorities.
Despite Anderson’s opposition, the measure passed, ensuring that unaccompanied migrant children in San Diego will have access to legal representation when they appear in court. Supporters of the program argue that providing children with lawyers not only upholds principles of justice but also improves the fairness of the immigration system overall. Without legal assistance, experts say, children cannot often present their cases effectively, leaving them at severe risk of deportation without their voices being fully heard.
The decision by San Diego’s Board of Supervisors has drawn attention beyond the county, highlighting the growing debate across the United States about how local governments can step in to protect immigrants when federal support falls short. For many families and advocates, the expansion of this program represents a lifeline for children who have already endured long and difficult journeys in search of safety.