Trump Administration Reverses Decision and Restores Legal Aid for Migrant Children
After initially ordering legal groups to stop assisting migrant children who arrive in the United States alone, the Trump administration reversed its decision on Friday, allowing these groups to continue providing vital legal services.
The Acacia Center for Justice, one of the organizations offering legal representation, confirmed they received notice from the government that the program would resume. The reversal came after the government suspended the program earlier this week, which provides legal representation to children who arrive in the U.S. without parents or guardians, often facing complex immigration proceedings.
This program, funded through a $200 million contract, helps around 26,000 unaccompanied children with legal representation and offers legal education to another 100,000. The suspension had sparked criticism from various advocacy groups, which warned that the children would be at risk without legal assistance.
The notice, issued by the U.S. Department of Interior, did not explain why the Trump administration decided to reinstate the program, but it stated that the prior order to halt services had been “canceled.”
Acacia’s Executive Director, Shaina Aber, welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable children’s due process rights. She noted that the government and her organization would continue working together to ensure these services are fully restored. Aber also highlighted the urgency of ensuring no child has to face the immigration system alone.
In less than 48 hours, over 15,000 letters were sent by the public to Congress urging the reinstatement of the program.
The legal services are funded through a five-year contract, with the option for the government to decide each year whether to renew. The decision for this year is expected by March.
Michael Lukens, the Executive Director of Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, one of the subcontractors of the program, expressed concerns despite the reversal. He warned that the government’s actions had been troubling and said that without legal aid, children across the country would be left without protection or due process.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2008 provides special protections for unaccompanied children, including the facilitation of legal representation during deportation proceedings. While the law does not require every child to have a lawyer, it ensures that children can apply for asylum, juvenile immigration status, or visas for victims of sexual exploitation.
Wendy Young, president of the organization Kids in Need of Defense, called the decision to restore the program a crucial step in continuing protections for these vulnerable children. She urged the administration to maintain the program throughout the remaining year of the contract.
