U.S. Congress considers eliminating legal funding for unaccompanied migrant children
A Republican legislative proposal seeks to eliminate federal funding that guarantees legal representation to unaccompanied migrant children, despite a recent court order to resume this assistance. Organizations warn of serious consequences for vulnerable minors and victims of trafficking.
The United States Congress is considering a proposal that would end federal funding for legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children. This comes days after a federal judge, Araceli Martínez-Olguin, ordered the reactivation of payments suspended by the administration to attorneys who assist these minors.
Although the federal government recently signed a modified contract with the Acacia Center for Justice, which provides these services to more than 26,000 minors, the continuation of that contract will depend on budgetary decisions made by Congress.
Bill eliminates key funding since 2009
The House Judiciary Committee is reviewing a budget proposal that would omit funding to cover attorneys for migrant minors, an item that has been funded by Congress since 2009. This omission has been widely criticized by immigration and anti-trafficking organizations, which warn of the risks of leaving thousands of children without legal representation in complex cases.
In addition to the defunding, the proposal includes immigration fees that would directly affect minors and their families. These include charges of up to $5,000 for crossing outside of legal ports of entry, as well as sponsorship fees of up to $8,500 for relatives or guardians in the U.S., which could increase the economic and legal vulnerability of those seeking protection.
Migrant girl cries over US border interventions. Photo: Stanford University
Expert warnings about risks for victims of trafficking
Various human rights organizations have described the proposal as "catastrophic" for migrant children. Representatives of organizations such as Kids in Need of Defense and the Freedom Network assert that the elimination of legal assistance and the imposition of fees could lead to an increase in cases of abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking in the United States.
Jean Bruggeman, director of the Freedom Network, noted that the progress made in combating human trafficking in recent decades could be reversed. She asserted that the measures proposed in Congress would benefit traffickers and put children at greater risk by reducing their access to protection and justice.
