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More than 24,000 immigrant children could lose legal representation as a federal contract expires
['Staff Writer', 'Ruben Vives Is A General Assignment Reporter For The Los Angeles Times. A Native Of Guatemala', 'He Got His Start In Journalism Writing For The Times', 'Homicide Report In He Helped Uncover The Financial Corruption In The City Of Bell That Led To Criminal Charges Against Eight City Officials. The Investigative Series Won The Pulitzer Prize For Public Service', 'Other Prestigious Awards.']
Los Angeles Times
Children in the country without a parent or guardian may lose access to legal representation as a federal contract is set to expire.
Set us as preferredMore than 24,000 immigrant children who arrived in the U.S. without a parent or guardian and are facing deportation could lose access to legal representation this week when a federal contract funding nonprofit legal services expires, leaving some organizations to scale back or end assistance altogether.
Elsewhere in the country, some organizations say they’re being forced to end legal services for unaccompanied children.
The nonprofit subcontracts with around 100 legal service providers nationwide who represent tens of thousands of unaccompanied children.
The law ensures unaccompanied children have legal counsel to represent them in legal proceedings and to protect them from mistreatment, exploitation and trafficking.