Overview

• A federal judge in San Francisco ordered the Trump administration to temporarily restart funding for legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children after the termination of a major contract on March 21.
• The temporary restraining order prevents 26,000 minors from losing legal aid and will remain in effect until April 16, as the court evaluates broader legal arguments.
• The ruling highlights the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), with plaintiffs arguing it mandates legal representation for vulnerable children, a claim disputed by the government.
• The judge emphasized that continued funding promotes fairness and efficiency in the immigration system, which faces potential chaos without legal aid for minors.
• The Acacia Center for Justice, whose contract was canceled, warned that the funding cuts risk exploitation, deportations without due process, and harm to already-traumatized children.