The Door and The New York Times Highlight Courage, Care, and Community for Immigrant Youth
At The Door, we are steadfast in our commitment to young people, so many of whom are striving to build a future in the face of significant barriers. Across New York City, immigrant youth are facing impossible choices. Many arrive seeking safety and stability, only to find themselves caught in complex legal systems, prolonged detention, and the constant threat of deportation. These young people have already endured instability, separation, and trauma, and yet the systems meant to protect them often deepen their vulnerability. Meeting their needs requires more than a single service or solution; it demands a coordinated community response rooted in care, advocacy, and collaboration.
That same spirit of collaboration and resistance is reflected in a powerful New York Times story highlighting the experiences of several immigrant youth, including two young people represented by The Door’s Legal Services Center, Joel Camas and Mamadou Mouctar Diallo. Their stories underscore both the immense obstacles young people continue to face and the power of standing with them through coordinated care, advocacy, and compassion. They call attention to the urgent need for systems and communities to work together so that no young person faces these challenges alone.
As Joel and Mouctar face the uncertainty of detention and deportation, The Door has been with them, providing legal representation, guidance, and holistic support, ensuring they are not alone in navigating these complex systems. They find not only services, but a community that listens, advocates, and shows up for them. As Beth Baltimore, Deputy Director of The Door’s Legal Services Center, shared when reflecting on the role of The Door, “I think people don’t feel like, ‘I was alone with nowhere to go,’ because of that.” Her words capture the heart of The Door’s work: ensuring that every young person knows they are not alone, and that hope, support, and belonging are always within reach.
The Door is proud to stand alongside Joel, Mouctar, and so many others as they navigate systems too often stacked against them. We are deeply grateful for the network of collaboration that makes this work possible: attorneys, social workers, educators, and community partners working together to protect young people’s rights, safety, and dignity. At The Door, we see this as our collective responsibility. Each day, we are reminded that true progress requires not only skilled advocacy but also a community united in purpose to ensure that every young person, no matter their circumstance, has the chance to build a brighter future. As Kelsey Louie, The Door’s CEO, said at Opening Doors: A Youth Development Summit, “We are stronger than the storm because we’re in it together.” We are grateful to our partners for standing with us and with our young people as we continue to fight for.