Acacia Center for Justice

A small law firm with ties to the Trump administration declined a $150 million contract to represent migrant children, while another group received work worth up to $244 million to advocate for them. These events occur amid questions about who will represent unaccompanied migrant children in court due to plans for mass deportations. The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement oversaw the contracts and awarded the larger sum to Our Rescue.

The federal government awarded a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group to represent 1,800 unaccompanied children in federally operated shelters. Immigrant legal aid groups criticized this move, warning that it is an attempt to undermine minors' rights and that the children will not receive meaningful due process. The article also notes that federal efforts have repeatedly attempted to erode legal mandates for immigrant minors by withholding payments from service providers.

The federal government awarded a $150 million contract to Texas-based Burke Law Group, a corporate law firm with 26 staff, to represent 1,800 unaccompanied migrant children. Advocates criticize the move as undermining due process and fast-tracking deportations, citing the firm's lack of immigration law expertise. The Trump administration has previously issued stop work orders and withheld payments from nonprofit legal aid providers for these children.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Texas firm with no immigration law expertise and led by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The previous contract with Acacia Center for Justice expired, and the new firm has limited immigration law experience, with only two of its 30 listed lawyers specializing in the field.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm led by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm has limited immigration law expertise, and the previous contract with Acacia Center for Justice expired after disputes over client information.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm founded in 2023 by Marcella Burke, a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to 24,000 unaccompanied immigrant children. The contract replaces a previous agreement with the Acacia Center for Justice, which expired after tensions over client information, and the new firm has limited immigration law expertise. The contract, starting August 15, 2023, allows subcontracting and follows a decline in legal representation access for immigrant children since December.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to the Burke Law Group, a Texas firm run by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm replaces the Acacia Center for Justice, whose contract expired, and has limited immigration law expertise, with only two of its nearly 30 lawyers specializing in immigration and asylum law.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Texas-based firm with limited immigration law expertise and ties to a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The contract replaces a previous agreement with the Acacia Center for Justice, which expired after disputes over client information sharing.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation. The Trump administration has not awarded a new contract, raising concerns about increased deportations and a lack of transparency in the process.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired, leaving over 20,000 without legal representation. The Trump administration has not selected a new contractor, raising concerns about faster deportations. The Department of Health and Human Services has not paid $65 million owed to the previous contractor, Acacia Center for Justice, or transitioned cases to new attorneys.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired under the Trump administration, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation. The Department of Health and Human Services has not awarded a new contract, raising concerns about faster deportations and unresolved disputes over sharing sensitive client information.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation. The Trump administration did not renew the contract with Acacia Center for Justice, and no new contractor has been selected, raising concerns about faster deportations. The Department of Health and Human Services has not reimbursed $65 million to Acacia for legal services.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired, leaving over 20,000 without legal representation. The Trump administration allowed the contract with Acacia Center for Justice to lapse, raising concerns about increased deportations and lack of transparency in assigning new legal aid providers.

A 10-year legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired under the Trump administration, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation and at risk of deportation. The Department of Health and Human Services has not selected a new contractor, and the Acacia Center for Justice, which previously held the contract, reports unpaid funds and lack of transition planning.

More than 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children lost legal representation after the Trump administration allowed a contract with the Acacia Center for Justice to expire. Without lawyers, fewer than 10% of these children secure the right to remain in the U.S. during immigration proceedings. The Department of Health and Human Services has not announced a replacement contractor or transition plan.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired under the Trump administration, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation. Without lawyers, fewer than 10% of these children secure the right to remain in the U.S. during immigration court proceedings. The Department of Health and Human Services has not selected a new contractor or reimbursed $65 million to the previous provider, Acacia Center for Justice.

A federal contract providing legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, with the Trump administration declining to renew it. Advocates warn this will lead to faster deportations, as fewer than 10% of children without lawyers succeed in immigration court. The Office of Refugee Resettlement has withheld $65 million from Acacia Center for Justice, which distributes funds to legal organizations, citing refusal to share sensitive case data.

A federal contract providing legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, with the Trump administration declining to renew it. This could lead to rapid deportations, as fewer than 10% of these children secure legal protection without representation. The Office of Refugee Resettlement has withheld $65 million in reimbursements to the Acacia Center for Justice, which distributes funds to legal aid organizations, citing refusal to share sensitive case data.

A federal contract providing legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, jeopardizing representation for over 20,000 minors. Advocates warn this will lead to increased deportations, as only 10% of children without lawyers succeed in immigration court. The Trump administration withheld $65 million in reimbursements to Acacia Center for Justice, which distributes funds to legal aid organizations, citing refusal to share sensitive case data.

A federal contract providing legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, raising concerns about increased deportations. The Trump administration has withheld $65 million in reimbursements from the Acacia Center for Justice, which funds legal services, citing refusal to share sensitive case data.

A federal contract providing legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, leading to concerns about increased deportations. Bryan Chavez, an unaccompanied minor who received legal help, warns that without lawyers, fewer than 10% of children win their immigration cases. The Trump administration has withheld $65 million in funding from Acacia Center for Justice over disputes about sharing sensitive case data.

Over 25,000 unaccompanied minors in the U.S. will lose legal representation as a federal contract with legal service providers expires. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) stopped funding after lawyers refused to share confidential client information, leading to concerns about children being deported without legal help.

Thousands of unaccompanied migrant children could lose legal representation as a federal contract with the non-profit Acacia Center for Justice, which had funded legal services for the past five years, is expiring. Ali Rogin discussed the developments with Shaina Aber, Acacia's executive director.

A federal contract providing legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, leading to concerns about increased deportations. Bryan Chavez, an unaccompanied minor who benefited from legal representation, warns that without lawyers, fewer than 10% of children win immigration cases. The Office of Refugee Resettlement has withheld $65 million from the Acacia Center for Justice due to disputes over sharing sensitive case data.

Mid-South Immigration Advocates in Tennessee is closing due to Trump administration funding cuts, leaving 800 low-income immigrant children without legal representation. The organization cites a new policy requiring disclosure of confidential client information as a reason for withheld federal payments, leading to dire consequences including increased deportation risks for children.

The Trump administration has withheld $65 million in federal funds for legal representation of 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children, risking their ability to retain lawyers and increasing deportation risks. Legal organizations report declining partnerships due to non-payment, citing refusal to share sensitive case data as the reason for withheld funds.

The Trump administration has delayed $65 million in funds for legal representation of unaccompanied immigrant children, risking the loss of services for up to 20,000 minors. Immigration attorneys warn this could increase deportation risks, as organizations struggle with unpaid reimbursements and the administration plans to replace current providers with an inexperienced Texas state commission.

Thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children risk losing legal representation as the Trump administration withholds $65 million in Congress-approved funds. The delay forces children to represent themselves in immigration court, increasing deportation risks, and has led to legal aid organizations halting partnerships due to lack of reimbursement.