Legal aid for immigrant kids disrupted after Trump administration lets funding lapse

Earlier this week, the government let a legal-services contract that provided access to lawyers for tens of thousands of immigrant kids lapse. This article offers a breakdown on the devastating impacts ending this funding will have on unaccompanied children, and on the organizations who provide these legal services.

As a result of this decision, at least one nonprofit has laid off staff. Others count the days until their funding runs out. Ethics also limit how many cases lawyers can take on, says Emily Brock, deputy managing attorney for the children’s program at the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, an Acacia subcontractor.

“It’s a preparation and capacity issue,” she says. “Especially as the government makes it harder and harder to pursue relief.”

With the funding lapse, Ms. Brock says her organization can’t take on new cases.

“The onus shouldn’t be on us to be fundraising to provide services that the federal government is statutorily required to provide,” she says.