The Trump administration recently agreed to resume funding for attorneys representing unaccompanied migrant children after a federal judge mandated it. However, concerns remain about legal aid for these children due to a new Republican proposal in a House committee that could jeopardize protections. Jennifer Podkul, from Kids in Need of Defense, criticized the bill for potentially endangering children further and limiting their access to protection in the U.S.
U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguin ruled that the administration must restore funding stopped in March, which forced legal service providers to lay off staff and halt assistance. Despite the ruling, plaintiff groups reported that the administration did not fully comply. On the eve of the judge’s decision, the administration signed a short-term contract with the Acacia Center for Justice, which will subcontract over 100 groups to assist around 26,000 unaccompanied children. The continuation of funding, however, is uncertain and hinges on Congress’s budget decisions.
The House committee’s proposed legislation could eliminate funding for attorneys, which has been available since 2009. It also suggests imposing fees on unaccompanied children, such as a $5,000 charge for crossing the border at illegal points and sponsorship fees up to $8,500. Advocates warn that this bill could dismantle existing protections, exacerbating situations for vulnerable children, especially trafficking victims. Jean Bruggeman of the Freedom Network noted that the proposal would present significant risks, increasing vulnerability to exploitation and offering advantages to traffickers, which could negatively impact the progress made against human trafficking over the past 25 years.
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