The Trump administration has issued a stop-work order to a agency that gives authorized illustration to hundreds of unaccompanied migrant kids.
In a memo, obtained by The Hill, the Division of the Inside knowledgeable the Acacia Middle for Justice that “the Authorities hereby directs your agency to cease all work related to the scope of Contract 140D0422C0009,” which offers “Authorized Providers for Unaccompanied Youngsters.”
The letter additionally directed Acacia to “stop all companies and the ordering of provides” and to right away inform subcontractors of the stop-work order.
The Division of the Inside didn’t cite a particular cause for the order however stated it was “being carried out as a consequence of causes exterior of your management and shouldn’t be misconstrued as a sign of poor efficiency by your agency.”
President Trump has made cracking down on immigration a key tenet of his second time period, together with in some instances the elimination of sure authorities companies, such because the CBP One app used to use for asylum.
Acacia’s Unaccompanied Youngsters Program offers authorized companies to greater than 26,000 kids who’re in or have been launched from the custody of the Workplace of Refugee Resettlement, in line with its government director, Shaina Aber.
Aber stated this system protects kids from human trafficking, helps immigration courts run extra easily and ensures “a modicum of due course of, in order that kids navigating the immigration system alone perceive their rights and authorized obligations.”
She slammed the stop-work order in an announcement responding to the administration’s letter.
“The administration’s resolution to droop this program undermines due course of, disproportionately impacts susceptible kids, and places kids who’ve already skilled extreme trauma in danger for additional hurt or exploitation,” Aber wrote.
“We stand able to work with the Division of Well being and Human Providers to evaluate and quickly restore these important companies in order that Acacia and our companions can proceed supporting susceptible kids,” she continued.
Rebecca Beitsch contributed.
