On February 18, 2025, legal services groups providing representation and guidance to migrant children facing deportation stated that they were instructed by the Trump administration to stop their government-funded work. The affected organizations across the U.S. expressed concern that this decision would prevent them from offering critical legal services, such as “know your rights” sessions, to migrant children who crossed the U.S. southern border without parents or legal guardians.
Under U.S. law, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for housing unaccompanied minors until they turn 18 or are placed with a sponsor. The government funds nonprofits to provide legal counsel to these children. The Acacia Center for Justice, which oversees the federal contract for legal services, received a stop work order on Friday, halting services for about 26,000 children. This includes critical legal screenings to determine eligibility for benefits like asylum or special visas.
The order will force nonprofits to use their own funds to continue representing children in immigration court, as attorneys cannot abandon cases. The order was issued by the Department of Interior, which administers the contract, but HHS provides the funding. Both departments declined to comment.
Several impacted nonprofit groups have protested, while the Trump administration has been working to reduce federal spending on immigration programs. Recent changes also tightened the vetting process for sponsors of unaccompanied minors and increased collaboration between the Office of Refugee Resettlement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The administration argues that these measures are necessary to protect migrant children, but advocates warn that cutting legal services increases the risk of exploitation for unrepresented minors.
References:
Montoya-Galvez, Camilo. “Lawyers helping migrant children facing deportation ordered to halt work” CBS News. February 19, 2025.
Alvarez, Priscilla. Hudspeth Blackburn, Piper. “Trump administration cuts off access to legal services for unaccompanied migrant children” CNN. February 18, 2025.
