Changes in Legal Representation for Migrant Youths Seeking Green Cards

The Trump administration has stopped providing free lawyers to migrant youths seeking green cards through the “Special Immigrant Juvenile” loophole. Many youths crossed the border for jobs while parents stayed behind, leading to questions about claims of “abandonment.” The Biden administration had been funding legal representation for these youths, but paused funding for the Acacia Center for Justice, which distributed millions to lawyers. The pause is being reviewed, causing concern among activists for migrant children’s due process.