FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2024
Brookline, MA – Following successful litigation brought by VECINA and the National Immigration Litigation Alliance (NILA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (HHS-ACF) has committed to proactively disclosing the Unaccompanied Child Manual of Procedures (UC MAP) on its website when any changes are made. This marks a critical victory for unaccompanied children, their loved ones, and advocates alike, ensuring future transparency without further legal action.
HHS-ACF released the UC MAP in full last to the public last year for the first time, in response to a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by VECINA and NILA, in which the parties are represented by NILA and Araujo & Fisher. The UC MAP is a foundational document governing the treatment of unaccompanied children under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Its six sections include: Placement in ORR Care Provider Facilities; Safe and Timely Release from ORR Care; Services; Preventing, Detecting, and Responding to Sexual Abuse and Harassment; Program Management; and Resources and Services Available After Release from ORR Care.
“The transparency gained by the proactive disclosure of the UC MAP will continue to empower families and advocates and equip them with the most up-to-date tools to ensure that unaccompanied children’s rights are upheld,” said Molly Chew, ReUnite Project Director at VECINA. “We are encouraged that HHS-ACF has agreed to meet its obligation under FOIA.”
“Agencies have a legal obligation under the Freedom of Information Act to proactively disclose staff manuals that affect members of the public,” said Trina Realmuto, NILA’s Executive Director and counsel in the case. “We believe the UC MAP is exactly the type of manual contemplated by FOIA’s proactive disclosure provision and are pleased that the agency will now comply with the law and share it publicly.” All six sections of the UC MAP are now available here. In accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement, HHS-ACF will update this page when they make any changes to the document.
A copy of the complaint is available here.
A copy of the settlement agreement is available here.
Contact:
Trina Realmuto (She/Her)
Executive Director, National Immigration Litigation Alliance (NILA)
trina@immigrationlitigation.org
(617) 819-4447
Molly Chew (She/Her)
ReUnite Project Director, VECINA
molly@vecina.org
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The National Immigration Litigation Alliance (NILA) is a non-profit organization that seeks to realize systemic change in the immigrants’ rights arena through federal court litigation. NILA engages in impact litigation to extend the rights of noncitizens and to eliminate systemic obstacles they or their counsel routinely face. In addition, NILA builds the capacity of social justice attorneys to litigate in federal court by co-counseling individual federal court cases and by providing strategic advice and assistance to its members.
VECINA is a non-profit organization that seeks to empower immigrant justice advocates by mentoring attorneys, educating communities, and mobilizing volunteers. Its primary activities revolve around mentoring and training pro bono teams to provide legal assistance to vulnerable immigrant communities. VECINA’s ReUnite Project provides pro bono legal services and individualized support to the family members and other loved ones of detained unaccompanied immigrant children to ensure children’s swift release from detention and reunification with trusted loved ones.