Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 9h

Learn more and dive into the full curriculum from @vera.org: www.vera.org/ending-girls...

And to learn more about our work to fight commercial sexual exploitation of children: youthlaw.org/focus-areas/...

Strategies and Insights to End Girls’ Incarceration: Lessons from the…

Vera works closely with government and civic leaders to urgently build and improve justice systems that ensure fairness, promote safety, and strengthen…

www.vera.org

National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 9h

What if we invested in girls' freedom, instead of their incarceration?

NCYL and @vera.org’s new brief explores how and why girls and gender-expansive youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation are criminalized and what must change.

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 13h

Learn practical harm reduction strategies to support youth & families impacted by trafficking at our Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Action Team session on Oct 22.

🔗 Register: youthlaw.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 15h

Thank you Laura Bauer at the @kansascity.com for shedding light on this topic: www.kansascity.com/news/politic...

www.kansascity.com

National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 15h

An annual report about our lawsuit advocating for safety and stability in the Kansas foster system shows kids cycling through unstable placements, missing needed mental health care, & living without consistent support.

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 15h

“Too many children in Kansas’s foster system sleep in a different bed every week or even every night, [and] go without desperately needed mental health care.” –Kamala Buchanan-Williams, NCYL

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 2d

And thank you to @acaciajustice.bsky.social for their partnership in shedding light on this issue.

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 2d

In NCYL's latest report, “The Unraveling of ORR,” Dr. Matlow answers this question and so many more, discussing both the longstanding research on the harms of detention on children and the additional risks posed by ORR’s recent policy changes.

Read more: youthlaw.org/resources/un...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 3d

And thank you to @acaciajustice.bsky.social for their partnership in shedding light on this issue.

National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 3d

Our latest report shows how prolonged detention harms unaccompanied children. Their mental & physical health deteriorates, leading to hopelessness and deep distress.

Learn more here: youthlaw.org/resources/un...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 6d

Children deserve meaningful support and legal representation, not what amounts to a cash bribe.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/03/p...

Trump administration prepares to offer money to unaccompanied migrant teenagers to voluntarily leave US | CNN Politics

The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to offer unaccompanied migrant teenagers in the United States the option to voluntarily leave the country and receive a payment, according to three sou...

www.cnn.com

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 6d

Let's be clear: DHS's "offers" to unaccompanied immigrant children are not made with their best interests in mind. As NCYL's Neha Desai said to @cnn.com, "Voluntary departure has always been an option."

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 7d

And thank you to @acaciajustice.bsky.social for their partnership in shedding light on this issue.

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 7d

In our latest report, read David’s story, a 14-year-old detained in ORR custody and kept apart from his mother Isabel by new government requirements that have prevented his release.

Read NCYL’s latest report “The Unraveling of ORR”: youthlaw.org/resources/un...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 8d

And thank you to @acaciajustice.bsky.social for their partnership in shedding light on this issue.

National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 8d

Our latest report, “The Unraveling of ORR,” sheds light on how the Trump administration has quickly and quietly dismantled a system intended to protect unaccompanied children.

Hear directly from detained children: youthlaw.org/resources/un...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 9d

Companion reports from NCYL and @acaciajustice.bsky.social reveal the alarming increase in the amount of time the government is detaining unaccompanied children - and the accompanying psychological toll it takes on their mental health.

Read our joint press release: youthlaw.org/news/two-new...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 10d

And thank you to @acaciajustice.bsky.social for their partnership in shedding light on this issue.

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 10d

The numbers are clear. Releases to family sponsors have dropped, leaving more children trapped in government custody and leading to deteriorating mental & physical health.

Read more: youthlaw.org/news/two-new...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 10d

🚨 Together, NCYL and @acaciajustice.bsky.social released companion reports exposing recent ORR policy changes preventing unaccompanied children’s release from custody and highlighting the devastating consequences of these children’s prolonged custody.

Read more: youthlaw.org/news/two-new...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 13d

In 2023–24, 4,000+ California students were expelled. #AB1230 strengthens rehab plans so expelled students can return to school with the support they need.

Thank you @asmmiabonta.bsky.social for highlighting this bill. youthlaw.org/laws-policy/...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 14d

Foster youth, students experiencing homelessness, & those with disabilities face the highest suspension rates, often for minor “misconduct.” NCYL’s new report outlines urgent reforms California must make now.

Read In Harm’s Way: youthlaw.org/resources/ha...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 14d

Across the country, states are undoing hard-won youth justice reforms — but it doesn’t have to be that way. IL, CA & CO show we can invest in healing, not harm.

Together we can protect our youth against rollbacks and build thriving communities.
youthlaw.org/resources/yo...

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National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 15d

#AB1230 ensures expulsion rehab plans:
✅ Address behavior
✅ Provide info on readmission
✅ Use data to guide planning

Grateful to @asmmiabonta.bsky.social for spotlighting this issue.

youthlaw.org/laws-policy/...

National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) @youthlaw.bsky.social · 15d

New NCYL report: “In Harm’s Way” reveals that despite progress, many CA students still face unjust & harmful discipline practices — especially Black, Native, foster youth, those experiencing homelessness, & students with disabilities.

Read here: youthlaw.org/resources/ha...

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