A federal program providing legal support to 26,000 unaccompanied immigrant children—some as young as toddlers—has been abruptly halted by the Trump administration, leaving thousands vulnerable in deportation proceedings. Many lack parents or guardians in the U.S., and over 4,000 are in California shelters, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Department of the Interior ordered the Acacia Center for Justice, a key coordinator of the program, to 'stop work' this week. Though officials cited vague 'contracting rules,' advocates call it part of a broader push to strip protections for detained migrants. Elon Musk-backed efficiency advisors reportedly back the move.
🧒🏾 Why it matters: Under the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, minors are entitled to legal help in deportation cases, but it’s not guaranteed. 50% of kids currently face court alone, says Jennifer Podkul of Kids In Need of Defense. Without lawyers, cases could stall or children might vanish from the system.
💔 Texas-based Estrella del Paso, which serves 2,000 kids, vows to continue aid despite losing funds. 'They’ll be expected to go to court alone and uninformed,' said director Melissa L. Lopez. Her team can no longer give rights workshops in shelters.
Experts warn this could overwhelm courts and deepen trauma for children already navigating detention centers and language barriers. As one advocate put it: 'This isn’t efficiency—it’s cruelty.'
