The federal government plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm, to provide legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant children in government custody during immigration proceedings. The contract notice is scheduled to be posted to the Federal Register this week.
Under decades-old legal requirements, the federal government must provide protection for migrant children in the country without guardians due to concerns about exploitation, abuse, and human trafficking. Legal representation is considered critical, as children without adequate counsel face near-certain deportation. Burke Law Group’s website indicates the firm specializes in environmental, regulatory, and enforcement matters for corporate clients. Of its 24 attorneys, only two focus on immigration and asylum cases.
The proposed award follows the expiration of a contract with approximately 100 legal nonprofits that previously handled similar services. The Trump administration ceased payments to those organizations in November after lawyers refused to provide confidential information about the children, citing attorney-client privilege protections. Legal advocates estimate the government owes these nonprofits $65 million, with litigation ongoing over the dispute.
Burke Law Group’s leadership includes connections to the prior Trump administration. Marcella Burke, a co-founder, served at the Interior Department and Environmental Protection Agency. Founding partner Jeffrey Hall currently holds a position as an assistant administrator at the EPA. Immigration rights advocates have criticized the proposed contract award, noting the firm lacks demonstrated experience in child welfare and immigration law.
The new contract is scheduled to begin on Aug. 15 and covers approximately 1,800 children in HHS shelters. Uncertainty remains regarding legal representation for nearly 22,000 other unaccompanied children not in HHS facilities. Nonprofit organizations have indicated they will continue providing services without charge until resources are exhausted, citing their ethical obligations to vulnerable youth.
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