SILVER SPRING, Maryland – On March 21, the government issued a near-total termination of funding for legal services provided to unaccompanied immigrant children. This abrupt termination is expected to affect around 26,000 immigrant children who are now at risk of needing to represent themselves in immigration court unless they can otherwise secure representation.

"We are now hearing from members of the CLINIC network across the nation who are no longer able to represent their child clients due to this horrifying decision," said Anna Gallagher, CLINIC's executive director. "Children should never be expected to represent themselves in court, period. Unaccompanied immigrant children are some of the most vulnerable people in our legal system — little ones who have fled violence, abuse, and deprivation in their home countries. Stripping funding for their legal assistance is unconscionable; it puts innocent lives at risk if children face deportation because they did not receive due process."

For the last decade, CLINIC has delivered technical assistance to organizations who provide legal services under the terminated program. At least 29 CLINIC Affiliate organizations are directly affected by this funding cut.

"Our Affiliates are seeing the direct effect of this decision on their clients," continued Gallagher. "Going without representation in immigration court bears consequences for a child's entire life. Catholic social teaching calls us to protect the dignity and sanctity of every human life, especially that of children. As people of faith, our hearts break for the kids affected by this decision, and we pray to God that all people of goodwill will join together to speak out on their behalf and protect them from further harm."

Providing funding for the protection of vulnerable children has long had bipartisan support. CLINIC urges the administration to restore this funding immediately so that all immigrant children receive fair treatment in court and due process in their cases.