Thousands of Migrant Children Face Court Without Legal Counsel

The Department of Health and Human Services has maintained a network of 100 advocacy groups since 2003, providing essential counsel to children arriving without guardians. With these contracts ending, nonprofits are being forced to shutter programs or turn away new clients. Shaina Aber, executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice, confirmed that the government has failed to provide any transition plan for the thousands of minors currently under contract, leaving their legal futures in limbo.

Legal experts emphasize that without qualified representation, the success rate for children seeking immigration relief drops to less than 1%. Senator Jeff Merkley described the policy as a moral failure, while advocates warn that abandoning children to meet deportation quotas undermines basic due process. Despite the outcry, HHS officials state they remain compliant with all regulatory obligations, even as child welfare advocates prepare for a systemic collapse in legal support for the most vulnerable arrivals.