A contract providing legal representation to tens of thousands of unaccompanied immigrant minors is set to expire on Friday, amid an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and legal services providers. The administration halted payments to the contractor, Acacia Center for Justice, in December, leaving the federal government owing approximately $65 million with no apparent plans to establish a replacement program.
Current and former prosecutors have issued warnings about the policy’s effects. In a letter sent to the Department of Homeland Security, 10 prosecutors argued that eliminating legal protections discourages crime victims from reporting offenses to authorities, thereby undermining public safety. They expressed concern that the approach creates risks for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence who have sought legal protection or agreed to testify in cases against their abusers.
Federal law has long provided certain protections for child immigrants, either to ensure their safety or to enable them to serve as witnesses in criminal cases. Immigrant advocates and prosecutors contend the administration has circumvented these statutory safeguards by directing immigration judges to expedite removal proceedings for minors and restricting their access to attorneys who could assist them in seeking relief from deportation.
The conflict between the administration and legal services providers has persisted for over a year. When the Department of Health and Human Services previously attempted to cancel the contract, a federal judge ordered its reinstatement. Subsequent disputes have centered on the administration’s requests for confidential client information, which legal providers have refused to provide, citing attorney-client privilege concerns. Multiple lawsuits are pending in federal court seeking payment for legal services already rendered. A scheduled hearing on the matter is set for August 6.
As the standoff has continued, legal services organizations have reduced their workforce. Kids in Need of Defense, a nonprofit subcontractor, announced it will cease participation in the program after accumulating $20 million in unpaid fees. Meanwhile, immigration enforcement actions against unaccompanied minors have intensified, with immigration judges issuing approximately 10,000 removal and voluntary departure orders monthly since the administration took office—a rate roughly four times higher than during the previous administration’s tenure.
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