Lauren Blodgett

The Project

Over the last few years, the United States has experienced an unprecedented surge of unaccompanied minors from Central America entering the country at the southern border. Fleeing horrific violence—much of it gang-related—many of these children end up in New York, the state with the second highest number of unaccompanied minors, hoping to start a new life. Instead, they are forced to face the immigration process alone, as the U.S. government does not provide free, court-appointed attorneys to asylum seekers.

Lauren’s project focused on delivering high quality, specialized legal assistance to unaccompanied minors and creating a space for these children to grow and heal from the trauma of their past.

Fellowship Highlights

During her Fellowship, Lauren was able to provide free legal representation to 71 immigrant children; achieving monumental victories for her clients, including four green cards, 10 asylum grants; 25 successful Family Court outcomes for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status; and one DACA approval. She conducted more than 33 legal screenings of children seeking an attorney, including five detained children who were separated from their parents under the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy. Additionally, she co-founded a girls empowerment group called Las Mariposas, which translates to, “The Butterflies”.

Next Steps

Following her Fellowship, Lauren has stayed on with Safe Passage Project, where she remains committed to representing unaccompanied minors in immigration court. She continues to lead Las Mariposas, while incorporating a new focus on support group discussions. Lauren hopes to  establish her own nonprofit, called The Brave House, which will be a shelter for immigrant girls in New York City.

Media