OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) -- — A 2-year-old girl in Omaha could face a judge to be deported, and she's not alone.
On Thursday, 25 minors were scheduled to go to Immigration Court in Omaha, all in some stage of deportation hearings. There were kids as young as 7-years-old, and many had to miss school to go to court. Some didn't have an attorney representing them.
Students with the UNL College of Law Immigration Clinic presented themselves on behalf of the kids without an attorney Thursday morning. They believe it's crucial that everyone have representation.
“You can see how anxious some of the kids were, said Ella Newell, a UNL Senior Certified Law Student. "One of the girls today was doing the rosary as she was going through the hearing and so you can how scary this would be for someone so young, in a different language, in a different country where it's not the same in any way shape or form."
The organization is one of several attorneys who volunteer to represent the kids when they are scheduled to appear without someone.
"Unfortunately, in the immigration system since it's a civil system and not a criminal system there's not a constitutional right to state appointed counsel,” UNL Law Professor Kevin Ruser explained.
The UNL Immigration Clinic would like to see that law changed.
