Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday that she agreed with the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee that illegal immigrant children shouldn’t have to represent themselves in immigration hearings.
Ranking member Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., cited a Washington Post report in a hearing with Lynch about lawyers trying to teach children the ins and outs of U.S. immigration law. “I’ve never heard such a stupid, stupid, stupid thing from a judge or anyone else,” Leahy said.
“I’ve taught immigration law literally to 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds,” Judge Jack H. Weil said in the Post’s report. “It takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of patience. They get it. It’s not the most efficient, but it can be done.”
“I share with you your puzzlement over those statements,” Lynch said to Leahy. “In no way does the Department of Justice feel that children of that age or, frankly, children who are older, can or should represent themselves individually.”
When asked what the Justice Department’s stance is on whether people going through immigration and deportation hearings should be required to be appointed legal representation, specifically minors, Lynch deflected.
“While the current law does not provide the right to counsel, as a matter of policy we do feel that immigration proceedings for all applicants proceed much more smoothly when there is counsel appointed, particularly for unaccompanied children,” Lynch said, adding that the Justice Department actively works with groups that provide pro bono legal representation.
Lynch also said the Justice Department is looking to find ways to support appointment of legal representation.
