U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Jon Ossoff, along with 30 colleagues, have called on the Trump Administration to maintain legal services for unaccompanied children in the immigration system. The request was made in a letter addressed to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
Last month, a stop work order was issued by the administration to organizations providing these services but was later rescinded following public pressure. Senator Hirono has been an advocate for this cause, having reintroduced the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act in 2023.
The senators emphasized that “pausing or terminating” these services contradicts the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) requirements and puts approximately 26,000 unaccompanied children at risk of trafficking and exploitation.
A report from the Guardian noted that these legal organizations support around 26,000 minors. Lawmakers argue that without access to counsel, it is more challenging for unaccompanied children to navigate court hearings or communicate with authorities effectively.
The letter also includes signatures from several other senators including Tammy Baldwin, Michael Bennet, Richard Blumenthal, Cory Booker, Chris Coons, Dick Durbin among others.
The senators concluded their appeal by stressing: “Every day without access to counsel is another day in which vulnerable children face grave danger by human traffickers, abusers, or other bad actors.”
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