Office of Refugee Resettlement

A small law firm with ties to the Trump administration declined a $150 million contract to represent migrant children, while another group received work worth up to $244 million to advocate for them. These events occur amid questions about who will represent unaccompanied migrant children in court due to plans for mass deportations. The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement oversaw the contracts and awarded the larger sum to Our Rescue.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to the Burke Law Group, a Texas firm run by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm replaces the Acacia Center for Justice, whose contract expired, and has limited immigration law expertise, with only two of its nearly 30 lawyers specializing in immigration and asylum law.

A federal contract providing legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, with the Trump administration declining to renew it. Advocates warn this will lead to faster deportations, as fewer than 10% of children without lawyers succeed in immigration court. The Office of Refugee Resettlement has withheld $65 million from Acacia Center for Justice, which distributes funds to legal organizations, citing refusal to share sensitive case data.

A federal contract providing legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, with the Trump administration declining to renew it. This could lead to rapid deportations, as fewer than 10% of these children secure legal protection without representation. The Office of Refugee Resettlement has withheld $65 million in reimbursements to the Acacia Center for Justice, which distributes funds to legal aid organizations, citing refusal to share sensitive case data.

A federal contract providing legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, jeopardizing representation for over 20,000 minors. Advocates warn this will lead to increased deportations, as only 10% of children without lawyers succeed in immigration court. The Trump administration withheld $65 million in reimbursements to Acacia Center for Justice, which distributes funds to legal aid organizations, citing refusal to share sensitive case data.

A federal contract providing legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, raising concerns about increased deportations. The Trump administration has withheld $65 million in reimbursements from the Acacia Center for Justice, which funds legal services, citing refusal to share sensitive case data.

A federal contract providing legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, leading to concerns about increased deportations. Bryan Chavez, an unaccompanied minor who received legal help, warns that without lawyers, fewer than 10% of children win their immigration cases. The Trump administration has withheld $65 million in funding from Acacia Center for Justice over disputes about sharing sensitive case data.

Over 25,000 unaccompanied minors in the U.S. will lose legal representation as a federal contract with legal service providers expires. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) stopped funding after lawyers refused to share confidential client information, leading to concerns about children being deported without legal help.

A federal contract providing legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, leading to concerns about increased deportations. Bryan Chavez, an unaccompanied minor who benefited from legal representation, warns that without lawyers, fewer than 10% of children win immigration cases. The Office of Refugee Resettlement has withheld $65 million from the Acacia Center for Justice due to disputes over sharing sensitive case data.

Hundreds of migrant children as young as 3 in NYC face deportation hearings without legal representation in a courtroom overseen by Judge Lisa W. Ling. Federal regulations require legal aid for unaccompanied minors, but court records show only a quarter of cases had attorneys. A Trump-era contract for legal services is set to expire, potentially denying representation to 20,000 children nationwide.

In a New York City courtroom, detained migrant children as young as three faced deportation hearings without legal representation, despite federal regulations requiring legal aid. Judge Lisa W. Ling, overseeing these proceedings, questioned unrepresented minors directly, and a Trump-era legal services contract set to expire may leave thousands without legal support.

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights in D.C. supports unaccompanied immigrant children amid increased ICE arrests, with caseloads rising 20% since 2025. Immigrant children in federal custody now spend an average of 194 days in detention, up from 30 days in 2024, per Bloomberg Law and the Marshall Project.

Thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children risk losing legal representation as the Trump administration withholds $65 million in Congress-approved funds. The delay forces children to represent themselves in immigration court, increasing deportation risks, and has led to legal aid organizations halting partnerships due to lack of reimbursement.

ICE allegedly held a minor, A.D., in an adult detention center for nearly two months due to a clerical error about his age. A federal judge ordered ICE to transfer A.D. to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services while his age is reassessed, after his attorneys provided multiple documents proving he was 16 at the time of arrest.

The Trump administration plans to open a 528-bed ICE holding facility near Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana, positioning it as a 'staging area' to expedite deportations of families and unaccompanied children. The facility, operated by a nonprofit arm of LaSalle Corrections, is located near the nation's largest deportation flight hub, which handled over 4,400 immigration enforcement flights in the past year.

The Trump administration plans to open a 528-bed ICE facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, near an airport to expedite deportations of migrant families and unaccompanied children. The facility, operated by a private prison company, aims to address logistical challenges but has drawn concerns from immigration advocates about prolonged detentions and oversight.

The Trump administration plans to open a 528-bed ICE facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, near an airport to streamline deportations of migrant families and unaccompanied children. The facility, operated by a private prison company, aims to address logistical challenges by housing migrants temporarily before deportation flights, but advocates warn it could lead to prolonged detentions and oversight issues.

Senator Ron Wyden accused the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of preparing to deport over 500 unaccompanied migrant children in its custody using an 'unprecedented legal framework.' Wyden claims the agency is targeting these children through an administrative process lacking statutory authority and urged HHS to suspend related efforts.

A U.S. senator warns the Trump administration is planning to rapidly remove over 500 unaccompanied migrant children, bypassing legal protections. The administration denies the claims, while the senator alleges the plan violates child welfare mandates and demands an immediate halt.

A U.S. senator warns the Trump administration is planning to rapidly remove over 500 unaccompanied migrant children, bypassing legal protections. The administration previously attempted a similar effort that was halted by a federal court. Health and Human Services denies the claims, calling them fearmongering.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has decided not to renew an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities, specifically ending funding for a shelter operated by the Archdiocese of Miami. This decision by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) will impact the care of migrant children.