Topic overview
In brief
- A federal judge ordered HHS to pay $65 million to nonprofits for legal services provided to unaccompanied migrant children.
- The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights is owed over $2.5 million for work done on behalf of these children.
- The ruling raises concerns about the future of legal representation for unaccompanied minors as contracts remain unrenewed.
Summary
In the United States, a significant ruling occurred when a federal judge ordered the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to compensate nonprofit organizations providing legal representation to unaccompanied migrant children. This decision, made on a Thursday, mandated a payment of $65 million to nearly 100 nonprofits, including the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, which operates in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. The Amica Center's executive director, Michael Lukens, expressed relief at the ruling, noting that his organization is owed over $2.5 million for services already rendered to children in Maryland.
The ruling comes at a time when the contract between these nonprofits and HHS had expired, leaving many children without legal representation during critical court hearings. The contract, which had been in place for years, was not renewed last year, leading to concerns about the legal support available to unaccompanied minors facing deportation. Despite the contract issues, Lukens assured that the Amica Center continued to provide legal assistance to its clients without interruption.