The hundreds of children who recently arrived in New York City from Central America have encountered a justice system that appears more forgiving than many faced by their counterparts elsewhere. In an immigration courtroom in Lower Manhattan, they have often met judges who have steered them through the legal process with a gentle hand.
But challenges mount outside the courtroom, beginning with the seemingly mundane obligations of registering for school and securing health care. Many young immigrants remain unaware of the available support or are afraid to seek it out.