Trump admin cuts off legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children
The Trump administration cut off funding to organizations that provide pro bono representation and other legal assistance to unaccompanied migrant children, according to a memo obtained by ABC News.
In an email sent by the Department of the Interior, the organizations that receive federal grants were told to stop "all activities" related to the work they do to support migrant youth facing deportation.

"The stop-work order shall remain in place until you are notified otherwise," said the memo.
For unaccompanied minors, having an attorney could be the determinative factor as to whether they get to stay in the U.S. or are forced to return to their home country.
ABC News previously reported that thousands of unaccompanied children are representing themselves in immigration court due to a shortage of attorneys. In 2023, only 56% of unaccompanied minors in immigration courts were represented by counsel, according to data from the Department of Justice.
-ABC News' Laura Romero