1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

We must intervene and renew contracts for the representation of unaccompanied minors in immigration court. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act requires the federal government to represent children who crossed the border alone out of concern that they could be easily exploited, abused or trafficked. The Trump administration allowed the contracts with Acacia, for this representation, to lapse in August. Further, the administration issued a stop work order, which halted all work by legal representatives working on these cases. They are also withholding payments for work already done by legal representatives who are refusing to break attorney client privilege and give personal details to the administration. These programs are already funded by Congress and the president does not have the power to halt it, but we are just letting him get away with it. Unrepresented minors are at an increased risk of deportation. Approximately 85% to 99% of unrepresented children are issued a deportation order. As of June, records from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), show 751,861 pending cases involving children in removal proceedings. This number is only increasing as ICE snatches children already in the country and places them in detention. These programs not only have children legal representation, but also provided explanations on the proceedings in a way the kids could understand. Now, Children are left to fill out complicated immigration forms, in English, without any help. The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2026 (H.R. 9259, S.1297) would provide unaccompanied children with legal representation during proceedings in immigration courts whether they were seized at the border or from within the United States. It would require an “unaccompanied child to be represented by counsel at every stage of the proceedings, beginning with the unaccompanied child’s initial appearance before an official with adjudicatory authority in removal proceedings or in related matters before the Department of Homeland Security or a State court, through the termination of immigration proceedings and resolution of any related matter before the Department of Homeland Security or a State court, even if the child attains 18 years of age or is reunified with a parent or legal guardian while the proceedings are pending.” It also implements a coalition for deciding on how the contracts shall be assigned instead of allowing the President to give these contracts to his cronies. I urge you to support the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act to stop this injustice. Children cannot be expected to represent themselves.