James Fights Trump’s Cuts to Child Immigrant Legal Aid

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a furious fight against the Trump administration’s attempt to strip legal protections from some of the most vulnerable people crossing the border: unaccompanied children. James, along with 19 other state Attorneys General, filed an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, demanding the restoration of funds for crucial immigration legal services.

The battle centers around the Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule, established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2024. This rule mandated that the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) provide funding to organizations offering direct legal representation to these children – kids who often arrive fleeing horrific violence, trafficking, and abuse, with no family in the U.S. to advocate for them. The Trump administration’s move to cancel the contract funding these services is, according to James, a deliberate endangerment of these kids.

“Abandoning support for children who have come to America fleeing violence and abuse is unbelievably cruel,” Attorney General James stated bluntly. “Everyone – no matter who they are – deserves legal help, especially children without a parent or guardian to rely on. Immigration lawyers can help children get the health care, housing, and education they need, and I will keep fighting to ensure no child is left to fend for themselves.” The stakes are incredibly high. Without legal representation, unaccompanied children are more than twice as likely to face deportation, often back to the very dangers they escaped.

The brief details how vital legal counsel is to a child’s chances in immigration court. A recent study revealed that nearly all children who successfully obtained relief – asylum, withholding of removal, or other protections – were represented by an attorney. In New York alone, the impact of these cuts will be devastating. ICare, a primary provider of legal services for unaccompanied children in the state, estimates over 10,600 unaccompanied children will arrive in New York between 2021 and 2026, and many will desperately need legal assistance. These children aren’t just seeking a new country; they need access to healthcare, housing, education, and, in many cases, a safe guardian.

James and the coalition argue that the Trump administration’s actions aren’t just inhumane, they’re illegal. They point to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), which explicitly requires the federal government to ensure legal counsel for unaccompanied children “to the greatest extent practicable.” Congress has already allocated funds for these services, making the ORR’s decision to withhold them a blatant violation of the law. The Attorney Generals are asking the court to uphold a lower court’s preliminary injunction, preventing the Trump administration from slashing support for these critical services.

Joining Attorney General James in this legal battle are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, and others. The case highlights a growing national debate over the treatment of migrant children and the responsibility of the government to protect the most vulnerable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the unfolding consequences of these policy decisions.”