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Kids in Need of Defense (New York Office)

  • Location:
    252 West 37th Street,
    Suite 1500
    New York, NY 10018
  • Phone:
    (646) 677-9900
  • Fax:
    (646) 677-9914
  • Contact methods:
    Phone calls
  • Appointments accepted:
    Yes

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. KIND has accepted over 23,000 referrals of children seeking legal representation in their immigration proceedings. KIND has welcomed more than 41,000 attendees to trainings since its founding, cultivating partnerships with over 670 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.

KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care and other comprehensive services.

To address the root causes of child migration from Central America and strengthen protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.

KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.

KIND has offices in eleven cities in the United States - Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Fresno, Houston, Newark, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Seattle.  

Counties served: Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), Nassau, NY (Manhattan), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Suffolk, Westchester

Services Provided

Are immigration legal services provided? Yes
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Adjustment of Status, Asylum applications, Removal hearings, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T visas, U visas
Types of immigration legal services provided: Filings with USCIS, Representation at Asylum Interviews (Credible Fear Interviews, Reasonable Fear Interviews), Representation before the Immigration Court, Representation before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
Non-legal services: Legal Orientation Programs (LOP) / Know Your Rights Presentations (KYR), Referrals to other services
Populations served: Detained individuals, Human Trafficking Survivors, Individuals who are not in legal immigration status, Individuals with physical/mental disabilities, Juveniles, Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender, Torture survivors
Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish
Access to a commercial interpreting service or language bank: Yes
Nominal fee charged? No
Other information: Alternate Phone: (212) 854-5970

Staffing Information

Number of attorneys on staff: 17
Is organization BIA recognized? No
Number of fully accredited BIA representatives on staff: 0
Number of partially accredited BIA representatives on staff: 0
Number of paralegals/legal workers on staff: 14

Additional Details

Pro Bono opportunities? Yes
Network affiliations: Immigration Advocates Network, Kids In Need of Defense

Volunteering

Volunteer Coordinator