Immigration courts stories

Jul 21, 2026

Over half of children in immigration courts lack legal representation as Trump aid cuts threaten thousands more

More than half of children facing deportation orders are representing themselves in immigration courts, according to Department of Justice data, while thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children risk losing their attorneys due to Trump administration cuts to legal aid funding.

Jul 21, 20263 sources

Top claims

▪Federal officials reportedly requested help from the Texas attorney general's office and the Texas Indigent Defense Commission to represent unaccompanied children being sent en masse to Texas
▪The federal government has refused to reimburse legal organizations for $65 million in completed work since December 2025 unless they turn over sensitive client information, including unredacted medical evaluations
▪The Trump administration plans to end a federal contract providing legal counsel to more than 20,000 unaccompanied children on July 31, 2026

People involved

Donald Trump

Subtopics

Immigration1 Immigration policy1 Trump administration policies1

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