An eleven member panel of Ninth Circuit federal judges is currently hearing arguments regarding whether or not immigrant children should have free legal representation in immigration court removal proceedings. Specifically, this case centers around an immigrant minor, C.J., who asked for asylum when emigrating from Honduras at the age of 13, claiming that violent gangs were threatening to harm him if he didn’t join their ranks. An immigration judge rejected his asylum claim. C.J. appealed this decision, claiming that he should have been appointed free legal representation at that immigration hearing.
