While the US Kids in Need of Defense project supports asylum-seeking children who are at a high risk of detention or removal, in the UK children in asylum proceedings still fortunately have access to legal aid.

Applications for leave to remain under paragraph 276ADE(1) of the Immigration rules, or ‘7 year applications,’ enable those under 18 who have been resident in the UK for 7 years to gain leave to remain on the basis of their close personal connections to the UK.

This form of application is not currently eligible for legal aid and is distinct from citizenship applications which can be made via CELC’s Kids in Need of Defense hub, Coram Children’s Legal Centre’s Children’s Pro Bono Legal Service, and PRCBC.

As such, this kind of application will form the central component of MiCLU’s work with Kids in Need of Defense UK while the organisation embeds expertise within our pro bono partners.

Further application types are intended to be added as the programme becomes more established, and as demand requires. At present demand for ‘7 year applications’ is high.