From Mother Jones · Kyle Paoletta · · 2m
Trump Targets Legal Aid for Migrant Children
Trump administration cuts $200m legal aid funding, forcing migrant lawyers to work without pay.
In brief
Trump administration cuts $200m legal aid funding, forcing migrant lawyers to work without pay. Trump administration cuts $200 million in federal legal aid funding for migrant children, leaving organizations to represent clients without pay. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
First Trump came for immigrants
On Labor Day weekend 2025, immigration attorney Cooper Richardson called a Phoenix shelter where a Guatemalan child was detained.
“I was nervous and shaking and scared, and I’m not the one who might have been put on a plane.”
Trump cuts legal aid funding
The Trump administration cut $200 million in federal funding for legal defense of migrant children, forcing layoffs and longer hours.
“The Trump administration ended humanitarian parole for 1.4 million refugees and migrants who entered during the Biden administration.”
Legal aid groups face crisis
Legal aid groups like the Florence Project and ImmDef had to lay off staff while handling increased deportations and detention.
“I talked to about 30 kids that Friday, including one as young as 3 years old.”
RAICES loses half its staff
RAICES in Texas lost 159 employees after federal funding for its Unaccompanied Children Program was cut in March 2025.
“There’s no meeting with a supervisor, no inclination around the office that this is happening.”
ImmDef shifts focus
ImmDef’s lawyers now represent migrants detained through racial profiling and warrantless arrests, not those awaiting asylum.
“The vast majority of new clients are people who’ve lived in Southern California for 10, 20 years, most with no criminal history.”
Our Rescue takes over
The Trump administration awarded a $158 million contract to Our Rescue, an anti-sex-trafficking group with no legal experience, to run the Unaccompanied Children Program.
“Our Rescue does not do this work. They are not qualified, and there has been no indication that that contract has been signed.”
Legal aid groups scramble
Legal aid groups like RAICES and ImmDef continue representing clients without pay after federal funding cuts.
“We have an ethical, legal, and moral obligation to continue representing these children, and with or without money from the federal government, we must do that.”
Internal conflicts rise
Legal aid groups face internal conflicts as staff members are laid off and leadership shifts focus.
“It’s such a disservice to the people who really need our help to put ego before talent.”
Funding cuts continue
The Trump administration continues to cut federal funding for legal aid, leaving groups to work without pay.
“The Trump administration cut $200 million in federal funding for legal defense of migrant children.”
Migrant children face detention
Migrant children are being detained without legal representation, leading to increased risks of deportation.
“The vast majority of new clients are people who’ve lived in Southern California for 10, 20 years, most with no criminal history.”
Legal aid groups adapt
Legal aid groups adapt by working pro bono and expanding their services to meet the needs of detained migrants.
“We are winning cases despite all the terrible stuff that’s happening out there.”
Trump administration targets legal aid
The Trump administration targets legal aid groups by cutting funding and increasing deportations.
“The Trump administration ended humanitarian parole for 1.4 million refugees and migrants who entered during the Biden administration.”
Migrant rights under threat
Migrant rights are under threat as legal aid groups struggle to provide representation without funding.
“We are gaining asylum for our clients. We’re getting clients released from detention.”
Legal aid groups continue
Legal aid groups continue representing clients despite funding cuts and increased deportations.
“We call them hard-fought losses. Every time we help a client access due process and actively participate in their immigration case.”
Migrant children in crisis
Migrant children face increased risks of deportation without legal representation.
“The vast majority of new clients are people who’ve lived in Southern California for 10, 20 years, most with no criminal history.”
What happens next
Legal aid groups will continue representing migrant children without pay as the Trump administration cuts funding.
“We have an ethical, legal, and moral obligation to continue representing these children, and with or without money from the federal government, we must do that.”
The big picture
Trump administration cuts $200 million in federal legal aid funding for migrant children, leaving organizations to represent clients without pay.
