Just days after President Donald Trump's second inauguration, a help desk run by the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center in Detroit was shut down following a stop-work order issued by the Justice Department in response to a Trump executive order. The desk had assisted about 10,000 people facing deportation since December 2021. The closure of such programs that educate individuals in immigration courts and detention centers about their rights and the legal process could lead to many navigating the system without guidance.
A coalition of nonprofit groups has filed a lawsuit challenging the stop-work order and seeking to restore access to the programs. Despite the loss of federal funding, the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights attempted to provide services at a Virginia detention center but was escorted out the next day. The National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago, which served over 2,000 people in 2024, is uncertain about the future of its scaled-down services due to federal funding cuts.
Congress allocates $29 million annually for programs like the Legal Orientation Program and the Immigration Court Helpdesk, which have bipartisan support. In the past, threats to cut funding were averted due to legal action and congressional support. However, this time, the stop-work order was sudden, leaving program staff barred from detention centers.
Immigration law is complex, and individuals do not have the right to appointed attorneys if they cannot afford one. With a backlog of about 3.7 million cases in immigration courts nationwide, informed individuals can expedite hearings and make decisions based on their circumstances. Organizations also ensure due process rights, provide translation services, and prevent unlawful deportations.
One asylum seeker, a 69-year-old woman from Venezuela, expressed frustration at the closure of the help desk she relied on for her asylum application. Without their assistance, she fears having to spend money she doesn't have for legal help. The absence of these programs not only hampers due process but also exacerbates the challenges faced by individuals navigating the immigration system.
