Trump administration halts funding for critical immigration legal services for unaccompanied children

On February 18, 2025, the federal government issued a stop work order for legal services funded through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Unaccompanied Children’s Program. This stop work order gravely imperils the ongoing representation of children in immigration proceedings.  

“RMIAN is appalled and outraged that the administration has stopped funding legal representation for unaccompanied children. RMIAN represents hundreds of unaccompanied children--some as young as two-years-old--who would otherwise be forced to navigate the complicated immigration legal system alone. RMIAN's clients include children who have been subjected to child abuse and neglect, trafficking and sexual abuse who fled to the U.S. for safety and protection,” says Ashley Harrington, RMIAN Children’s Program Managing Attorney.  

The order affects over 90 legal service providers across the U.S., including RMIAN, which together represent over 26,000 unaccompanied immigrant children in immigration court proceedings. About 160 children in Colorado are impacted by this order, where the federal government halted funding for their legal representation with the stroke of a pen.  

Gina Rangel, RMIAN Unaccompanied Children’s Program Coordinator and Paralegal says, “RMIAN stands in solidarity with the unaccompanied children across the country who are impacted by this shameful stop work order and will continue to fight for their access to free legal representation.”  

These are stories of children RMIAN has recently helped through the Unaccompanied Children’s Program:

• Growing up, Lydia* was beaten by her father almost daily. As a young teenager, she fled her home and came to the United States as an unaccompanied child. RMIAN will no longer receive funding from ORR to continue Lydia's legal representation, even though she is eligible to receive a green card and eventually become a U.S. citizen. 

• RMIAN represents three siblings ages 7-13 who came to the United States on their own last year after their parents were killed by gang members in their home country and they were left with an abusive uncle. RMIAN will no longer receive funding to continue the fight to prevent these siblings’ deportation.   

* Indicates use of a pseudonym. 

Please reach out to your elected representatives and demand the restart of this critical legal access program that provides essential and life-changing legal support to thousands of children every year.