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4mo ago

Federal Judge Extends Nationwide Order Protecting Legal Aid for Migrant Children

Judge Martínez-Olguín's injunction blocks the Trump administration's attempt to terminate funding for attorneys representing unaccompanied minors in immigration courts, as Congress debates future appropriations.

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U.S. Border Patrol agents speak to an unaccompanied minor from Honduras, 4, after she crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico, in Roma, Texas, on Aug. 14, 2021.
Nick Wagner/Xinhua via Getty Images/uscourts.gov
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Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín issued a preliminary injunction requiring the continuation of taxpayer-funded legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children.
  • The Trump administration's efforts to terminate a $200 million legal aid contract with the Acacia Center for Justice were halted, citing violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.
  • The administration has appealed the injunction and attempted to have the judge recuse herself due to alleged bias stemming from her previous work with immigrant advocacy groups.
  • A modified short-term contract was signed with the Acacia Center for Justice just before the injunction deadline, ensuring temporary funding for legal aid programs.
  • Congress is currently considering legislation that could eliminate funding for attorneys representing unaccompanied minors, raising concerns about the future of these protections.