The Trump administration has issued a directive to legal service providers assisting unaccompanied migrant children to halt their services, as per a leaked memo. This decision is part of a series of measures that have been reducing crucial resources for immigrants in the United States, specifically targeting minors who have crossed the southern border without their parents.
The Department of Interior transmitted the order to the Acacia Center for Justice, a nonprofit organization that aids nearly 26,000 children in and released from Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody. ORR, a division of the Health and Human Services Department, is responsible for the welfare of unaccompanied migrant children.
Shaina Aber, the executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice, criticized the administration's move, stating that suspending the program undermines due process, disproportionately affects vulnerable children, and exposes them to further harm or exploitation. The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, which offers legal services and 'Know Your Rights' presentations for children in government custody, also condemned the decision.
Roxana Avila-Cimpeanu, the deputy director of the Florence Project, expressed concern that without their services, children may have to navigate immigration court proceedings alone, which she described as an unprecedented attack on immigrant children. While children who are already represented may not be immediately impacted, the sudden cessation of funding could lead to downsizing or closure of organizations providing crucial support.
