Impact Report 2025
The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) is a US national nonprofit that defends the rights and wellbeing of children and youth through litigation, policy advocacy and legal strategy, informed by the experiences of young people and families. In 2025 — a year of significant threats to children's rights — NCYL secured an emergency injunction halting the unlawful overnight deportation of hundreds of unaccompanied Guatemalan children, preserved the Flores Settlement Agreement protecting children in immigration custody, and helped pass landmark legislation freeing 6,000 young people annually from endless probation in California. NCYL's settlement monitoring covers 23,000 foster children across three states, and 42,000 students benefited from NCYL settlement enforcement requiring inclusive schooling. 6,600+ advocates were trained on immigration rights, $10 million was secured for trauma-informed youth services in Colorado, and 1.8 million Illinois students were protected by a bill banning municipal school fines.
Report snapshot
23,000 children in the foster system benefiting from NCYL settlement monitoring across Washington, Missouri and Kansas; 42,000 students benefited from NCYL settlement enforcement requiring inclusive schools; 1.8 million Illinois public school students protected by bill banning municipal fines in schools
Key Metric 1
6,000 youth per year freed from endless probation under AB 1376 (California landmark reform led by NCYL); 6,600+ advocates, providers and policymakers trained to help children and families navigate the immigration system; 346 youth trained to advocate and participate in policy change
Key Metric 2
Emergency injunction secured halting unlawful deportation of hundreds of unaccompanied Guatemalan children in middle of night — federal judge issued order within hours; $10 million secured for trauma-informed youth services in Colorado; Flores Settlement Agreement preserved protecting all children in federal immigration custody
Key Metric 3
8
Views