Trump Administration Halts Legal Aid for Migrant Children, Sparking Outcry
The Trump administration has ordered legal service providers assisting unaccompanied migrant children to cease operations, a decision that has drawn widespread condemnation from advocacy groups, Anadolu Agency reported.
A memo obtained by CNN revealed that the Interior Department issued the directive to the Acacia Center for Justice, a nonprofit that aids nearly 26,000 migrant children in or released from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody.
Shaina Aber, executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice, condemned the move, stating it “undermines due process, disproportionately impacts vulnerable children, and puts children who have already experienced severe trauma at risk for further harm or exploitation.” Roxana Avila-Cimpeanu, deputy director of the Florence Project, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the dire consequences for children forced to represent themselves in immigration court.
President Donald Trump, re-elected last November on an aggressive anti-immigrant platform, has faced criticism for policies targeting vulnerable populations. Advocates warn this decision will exacerbate the challenges faced by migrant children, leaving them without essential legal support.
