Legal aid groups sue HHS over cuts to migrant children's representation

A coalition of legal aid organizations has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) decision to cut funding for legal representation of unaccompanied migrant children.The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, comes after HHS partially terminated contracts that have provided legal support to approximately 26,000 migrant children. The groups that collectively received over $200 million in federal grants were informed last week that their funding for legal representation and attorney recruitment would be discontinued.Legal advocates argue that the funding cuts will have devastating consequences for vulnerable children navigating complex immigration proceedings. "Many unaccompanied children will never speak to a lawyer, will never apply for immigration relief for which they are eligible," the lawsuit contends.Sam Hsieh, an attorney with the Amica Center, described the move as "the most brazen attack on immigrant children since family separation." He emphasized that many of these children are eligible for immigration relief but cannot effectively seek it without legal representation.The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to block HHS from terminating the funding. They warn that the cuts will:Government data reveals that more than 600,000 migrant children have crossed the southern border without a legal guardian or parent since 2019, highlighting the critical importance of legal support for these vulnerable individuals.The lawsuit underscores the ongoing challenges faced by unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S. immigration system, particularly under the current administration's increasingly restrictive policies.