Many of these unaccompanied minors are illiterate in the English language, are often denied adequate translators, and are ignorant of American culture and judicial practice. When they do not have the advice of counsel, the youngsters are unable to knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive their rights to a deportation hearing and their waivers are invalid. The solution for such unaccompanied minors is mandatory deportation hearings that cannot be waived, thus protecting the minors' due process rights and ensuring their statutory rights to apply for political asylum, suspension of deportation, refugee status, and adjustment of status. 98 footnotes.