On February 20, 2025, the Trump administration reinstated legal aid for unaccompanied immigrant children, lifting a stop-work order that had halted services for approximately 26,000 minors.

The Acacia Center for Justice and the Immigrant Defenders Law Center confirmed the restoration of these essential legal services, which are crucial for the due process rights of vulnerable children.

This announcement allows legal groups to continue providing necessary services to tens of thousands of children who arrive in the U.S. alone, some as young as toddlers.

The legal aid program is backed by a five-year contract worth $200 million, which enables organizations like Acacia to represent these children and provide legal training to additional youth.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 mandates special protections for unaccompanied minors, including access to legal representation during deportation proceedings.

The initial stop-work order issued on February 18, 2025, had raised significant concerns among legal non-profits, prompting them to continue representing minors despite the directive.

Public response to the halt was swift, with over 15,000 letters sent to Congress within 48 hours, demanding the resumption of the legal aid program.

Lindsay Toczylowski, president and CEO of ImmDef, noted the public outrage that fueled this demand for restoring legal access for these children.

Despite the program's restoration, Michael Lukens from the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights expressed ongoing concern about the unprecedented challenges facing children in the immigration system.

The affected children include those who arrived at the U.S. border without parents and are currently in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, with some residing in foster care or group homes.

Organizations assisting migrant children welcomed the decision, urging the government to maintain the restored funding to ensure vital protections for these vulnerable youth.

Shaina Aber, executive director of the Acacia Center, expressed relief at the reinstatement and emphasized the importance of ensuring children are not forced to navigate the immigration system without help.