Angelina Jolie fights back for refugees

Angelina Jolie
via People

Regardless of having her own clan of a family that practically resembles the United Nations, Angelina Jolie still doesn't forget those kids who have yet to be helped.

Last weekend, Angelina teamed up with Microsoft Corps. and 25 other leading law firms in an effort to stop the government's plan to deport over 8,000 unaccompanied immigrant children-- many of whom live in New York City.

Her new launch of KIND (Kids In Need of Defense) will provide free legal representation to immigrant children who came to America without an adult.

"These children often have nothing--no money, no support and no family," Angelina said in a released statement. "Many end up becoming lost, tramautized, and ultimately forgotten."

Moreover, last Friday Angelina also spoke about international crime and justice at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

"Over the past seven years, I've worked with UNHCR and I've travelled around the world to bring attention to refugees," Angelina said. "It's been a remarkable education."

Angelina continued to speak out on her personal experiences of seeing refugees return to the same debilitating place they fled, "They are returning to the same lawlessness that sent them running in the first place. I've seen aid workers tear up as they put ladies on a bus and say, 'I don't know what we're sending them back to."

She conceded that she had yet to come up with a concrete solution, "But I do know this," she said, "No mother who had her children killed in front of her, no young girl sold into slavery, no boy kidnapped and forced to be a child soldier and no young girl like the 3-year-old I met in Sierra Leone, who had her limbs cut off, should be expected to simply forget. No one should have to choose between peace and injustice."

Check out how you too can also brush up on your knowledge of immigration, refugees, and discrimination with these 11 quick facts .

Comments

What would the world do without Angie and Brad? I remember when she first was a UN ambassador. She didn't just do it for the press. A life of service has stuck with her.

I really admire the way Angelina has led her life these last 10 years or so.. she could have easily slipped down the path of so many celebrities, DUIs, rehab stints, papparazi addiction... so many celebs should really take a cue or two from her

This is definitely an admirable cause. Being alone in a foreign country is hard enough. Dealing with being deported and, as the article says, forgotten just takes it to a whole new level. These kids deserve a childhood. Don't let them be forgotten.