The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) terminated its contract with the Acacia Center for Justice last Friday, effectively disrupting legal services for over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children. The contract, which had been in place for nearly two decades, enabled the center to coordinate a network of legal providers, including attorneys, advocates, and social workers, offering critical representation to minors navigating the U.S. immigration system.

Federal officials characterize the decision as the result of a contract dispute. However, immigrant advocates and legal experts contend the move undermines long-standing protections aimed at assisting vulnerable children—many of whom fled violence, trafficking, or persecution in their home countries. Many seek asylum or reunification with family members in the United States.

The 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act mandates that HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) ensure legal representation for unaccompanied minors. Under this framework, the Acacia Center functioned as a key intermediary, managing partnerships with dozens of law firms and service organizations across the country.

Officials including White House border enforcement official Tom Homan have expressed a focus on targeting individuals considered the “worst of the worst.” Critics argue that the administration’s approach also involves efforts to curtail legal protections for immigrant children, speeding up their deportations. Despite official statements asserting that “children deserve to be with their parents,” the Trump administration’s immigration policies have reportedly resulted in the separation of more than 205,000 children from their families as of May 2019, with many placed in detention or foster care.

HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard stated the agency remains compliant with its legal obligations under the 2008 law. Nonetheless, since November 2018, the department has withheld approximately $65 million in payments owed to the Acacia Center and its network. HHS has demanded confidential client information, including unredacted medical and legal records, which the center argues would violate attorney-client privilege. The agency alleges fraud on the part of the Acacia Center but has not publicly provided evidence to substantiate those claims, relying instead on statements not supported by legal filings.

Advocates say recent measures by the Department of Homeland Security have pressured unaccompanied minors to abandon asylum claims through threats of prolonged detention or forced self-deportation. These children, many of whom survived traumatic backgrounds including violence and family separation, have faced mounting legal and emotional challenges amid shrinking support networks.

The withholding of funds has reportedly forced at least 40 law firms and service providers to reduce staff or limit services, leaving many children without legal representation. Bettina Rodriguez-Schlege, chief of staff at the Acacia Center, characterized the actions as an attempt to erode the existing legal support system by destabilizing its financial underpinnings.

Medical experts warn that prolonged uncertainty and lack of legal guidance exacerbate mental health issues among these children, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Legal representation has been shown to significantly increase the likelihood that children win asylum claims, offering them protection from return to dangerous conditions.

While Congress has allocated funding for legal representation of unaccompanied minors, advocates contend these resources have not adequately matched the demand. Critics note that the withheld $65 million represents a smaller expenditure compared to recent federal spending on ceremonial projects and White House renovations, highlighting a prioritization of resources away from vulnerable immigrant populations.

Despite the loss of funding, some organizations, such as the International Rescue Committee, have pledged to continue representing immigrant children in court. However, advocates warn this approach is unsustainable without renewed financial and policy support. The ongoing dispute raises questions about the federal government’s commitment to protecting unaccompanied minors within the immigration system.