UN human rights experts have condemned the U.S. government’s decision to cut legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children, describing it as a “serious violation of international law.” This is in the context of a larger Trump administration plan to deport hundreds of thousands of children who entered the U.S. without parents.
UN Condemnation Follows Legal Aid Cuts
Independent UN experts have condemned the discontinuation of legal aid for unaccompanied minors in U.S. immigration proceedings, stressing that children should never be left to defend themselves in court, especially when the outcome of a case can have “life-altering” effects. Legal aid for children has been widely accepted as a fundamental principle of child protection and due process under international law.
The budget cuts specifically targeted organizations offering legal aid to minors, leading to a federal lawsuit. In response, a court temporarily reinstated funding for these services, reflecting the judiciary’s recognition of the vital role that lawyers play in protecting the rights of minors.
Child Safeguards Featured in Enforcement Crackdown
The halting of legal aid comes as part of a broader Trump administration enforcement campaign against immigration, which has seen attempts to deport significant numbers of minors. Critics have indicated that the deportation of children to foreign countries without legal representation puts them at considerable risk of trafficking, abuse, and detention.
UN officials have made numerous calls to the U.S. government to ensure that the government adopts child-sensitive procedures in all immigration and asylum cases, which would ensure that minors are not treated as adults or left to fend for themselves in the legal process. This is important to ensure the government is abiding by international human rights law in the process.
Funding Cuts and Controversy
In February, the Department of the Interior ordered legal service providers working with children to stop work and ended their funding. This was met with backlash immediately, with critics accusing the administration of undermining the rights of minors.
Over 600,000 children have crossed the US-Mexico border as unaccompanied minors since 2019. The legal representation has been a vital lifeline for children, as it helps them understand their rights, seek asylum, or obtain special immigration relief, which would prevent wrongful deportation. The cuts are expected to impact these services at a time when enforcement actions against minors are being stepped up.
A Look Ahead
The courts, advocacy groups, and human rights bodies are keeping an eye on the funding of legal aid services for migrant children. This is part of a larger debate on U.S. immigration policies, children, and international human rights obligations.
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