State & National

Federal contract termination threatens legal aid for 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children

The Department of Health and Human Services terminated a three-year, $65 million contract with the Acacia Center for Justice that funded free legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant children through a network of providers nationwide. Americans for Immigrant Justice, a Miami-based subcontractor, says funding under the contract stopped in December 2025 and that it has not been paid for five or six months of work, forcing the organization to use reserves to continue services. The group announced it would furlough half its staff after July 31.

Sources: WCJB TV20