24,000 Immigrant Children Risk Losing Lawyers as Federal Contract Expires and $65 Million Goes Unpaid
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 31
24,000 Immigrant Children Risk Losing Lawyers as Federal Contract Expires and $65 Million Goes Unpaid
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 31
Summary
24,000 unaccompanied immigrant children could soon face immigration judges alone as the federal legal-aid contract expires Friday and nonprofits prepare to cut services or shut down.
HHS's Office of Refugee Resettlement said it offered an extension only if providers shared client information; nonprofits refused, saying disclosure of children and sponsors would violate ethics rules and could aid enforcement.
$65 million in reimbursements has been withheld since last November, providers said, draining reserves and forcing layoffs; Estrella del Paso expects to shrink from 30 staff to 3 while still serving 243 children.
2,500 children are currently in federal custody, staying an average 117 days—four times longer than a year ago—while advocates say lawyers are critical for asylum claims, voluntary departure decisions and oversight of federal shelters.
What happens when the government demands sensitive medical and legal records of vulnerable minors in exchange for critical funding?
The July 31, 2026 Legal Aid Shutdown: 20,000+ Migrant Children Face Deportation Alone as Federal Funding Ends
Overview
On July 31, 2026, the federal government ended its contract to provide legal counsel for over 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children, following a funding dispute that left legal aid groups unpaid and on the brink of collapse. As a result, thousands of children must now face complex immigration courts alone, where their chances of winning relief drop dramatically. The administration accelerated deportations by packing court dockets and removing legal protections, while attempts to shift responsibility to states like Texas failed. In response, some states like California and grassroots groups in Minnesota stepped in to offer limited support, but these efforts cannot fully replace the lost federal aid.