United States: The Trump administration issued a directive ordering nationwide federally funded agencies to cease providing legal help to those children who enter the US as unaccompanied immigrants.
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This includes an organization in Michigan that helps hundreds of local youth in the country.
On Tuesday, The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MICR) announced receiving a stop work order from the US Department of the Interior, which commanded the firm to stop entirely all activities under the Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children program through the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
The organization promised continued support to its young clients, although an order from the Trump administration would impact 80 percent of the organization’s present workforce.
“Legal services are unaccompanied children’s only hope for a fair process in the complex, adversarial U.S. immigration system,” as MIRC stated
“Unaccompanied children’s unique vulnerabilities – including their age, developmental stage, and communication and comprehension constraints – make it virtually impossible for them to effectively navigate the complex and adversarial immigration system without an attorney at their side,” it continued.
Feds issue stop work order for legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children https://t.co/dCv976t1pa via @detroitnews The only service they should be providing is returning them safely back home.
— Lynda K (@KLynda77879) February 19, 2025
Legal notice to organizations
MIRC received this stop-work order that directed all legal service providers in the nation to suspend activities in a move that endangered thousands of vulnerable families in the United States, plus more than 800 Michigan-based families who MIRC serves.
After the order took effect, the number of children who lost their legal defense reached 26,000, while all detained youngsters remained without legal information per MIRC data.
The Migration Policy Institute think tank reports that Michigan holds about 91,000 unauthorized immigrants while President Donald Trump ran his election campaign by focusing on stringent immigration measures, particularly in this state.
What are the experts stating?
Mark Krikorian from the Center for Immigration Studies expressed his support for the work stoppage through his position as executive director. The president asserted that the Legal Service programs for unaccompanied children help more illegal immigrants enter the US.
According to Kirkorian, “The fact is that there is a legal mechanism for these so-called unaccompanied alien children,” and “They don’t need legal representation; what they need is to work with the consul representing their country … to get them returned to their home countries.”
MIRC emphasizes the critical importance of its legal services for children because they serve to fight both trafficking and exploitation. Implementing the legal services provided by MIRC staff has become a common practice for child trafficking investigators because it enables them to prosecute traffickers.