Federal Contract Ends for Legal Services to Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

Why it matters locally: The expiration of this federal contract will directly affect unaccompanied immigrant children in Pennsylvania who previously received federally funded legal representation, potentially increasing the burden on local legal aid organizations and the state's social services.

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A federal contract that funded legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant children expired Friday. This development means more than 25,000 children who received these services no longer have access to legal counsel paid for by the federal government. The contract covered legal assistance for children navigating immigration proceedings. Its expiration alters the provisions of legal assistance available to these children. The program provided lawyers to children without a parent or legal guardian in the United States. These children face deportation proceedings in immigration courts. Legal aid organizations and government agencies have previously highlighted the complexities of immigration law for children. Children involved in these cases often require legal guidance to understand their options and present their situations to immigration judges.