The Trump administration has issued a "stop-work" order for legal aid programs aiding unaccompanied immigrant children, effective immediately and indefinitely. This directive, announced on Tuesday, impacts U.S. non-profits that provide essential legal counsel for approximately 26,000 unaccompanied minors. Despite the order, many organizations remain steadfast in their commitment to continue representing their clients. The decision raises concerns about the heightened vulnerability of these children, many of whom have faced abuse or trafficking risks both in their home countries and within the United States.
The "stop-work" order mandates an abrupt cessation of all legal aid activities, affecting organizations like ImmDef, the largest provider of legal services to unaccompanied children in southern California. The Acacia Center for Justice and numerous other organizations have confirmed the directive. This move echoes a previous stop-work order under the Trump administration targeting legal aid for adults facing deportation—a decision that was reversed in early February after non-profits filed lawsuits against the government over the funding cuts.
The order has prompted an outcry among advocates and legal professionals who fear for the safety and rights of unaccompanied minors who are often in precarious situations. Many of these children have experienced significant trauma, and some are at risk of child trafficking. Without legal assistance, these vulnerable children face severe consequences; failure to appear in court for scheduled hearings could result in immediate removal orders.
Yliana Johansen-Méndez, a representative from ImmDef, emphasized the ethical obligations that attorneys have towards their clients.
“We have professional obligations to these clients,” – Yliana Johansen-Méndez
“We are required by the oaths that we’ve taken as attorneys by our state bars to not do anything that will prejudice [their cases].” – Yliana Johansen-Méndez
The government-funded legal defense efforts constitute a 20-year-old program designed to protect these minors' rights, described by Lindsay Toczylowski as:
“a 20-year-old program meant to safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable among us” – Lindsay Toczylowski
Advocates have labeled the decision to terminate legal aid as "shocking," cautioning that it endangers minors already at risk. The sudden halt has led to confusion and service reductions among non-profits dedicated to supporting unaccompanied children. Legal experts stress that the oaths taken by attorneys compel them to act in their clients' best interests, underscoring the ethical dilemma posed by the federal directive.