By Elena Durnbaugh
Gongwer News Service
More than 500 unaccompanied immigrant children are losing legal support upon the lapse of the federal contract supporting legal services, according to a press release from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
The MIRC has represented every unaccompanied child in federal custody in Michigan during the past several years. In 2026 alone, the nonprofit legal aid organization served 1,100 children.
Now, however, the organization said it is facing difficult decisions about the 948 cases it has open, because without federal funding, it cannot continue every case.
“MIRC remains committed to defending children’s rights and will ethically maintain as many children’s cases as possible,” a press release from the organization said. “However, with such a significant loss of funding, MIRC will only be able to keep about 420 current children’s cases.”
The federal funding was the result of the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which passed Congress with bipartisan support. It set forth requirements for the federal government to establish the Unaccompanied Children Program and protect children from trafficking, abuse and exploitation. A critical part of that was providing kids with legal services.
MIRC attorneys have detailed representing unaccompanied children as young as infants and toddlers in court, who would otherwise be expected to represent themselves before an immigration judge to be granted legal asylum in the U.S.
Last year, the Trump administration attempted to end the funding that provides legal services. It was partially restored through litigation, but the contract ended Aug. 1, and contracts weren’t renewed for the whole network of providers.
Additionally, the government has not paid nonprofits like MIRC since November 2025 for legal services provided under the contract, the press release said, though a federal judge ordered the government to issue the missed payment last week.
“The Unaccompanied Children Program is intended to serve children who have experienced violence, trafficking, abuse and have come to the U.S. seeking safety,” Ana Devereaux, senior managing attorney at MIRC said in a statement. “They arrive frightened, alone, and often unable to understand the language, the legal system, or what will happen to them next. For many, a MIRC lawyer is the first adult whose sole responsibility is to protect their rights, explain the process, and ensure their story is heard. Taking that away doesn't make the system more efficient, it abandons vulnerable children.”?
Due to the support of local funders, the organization will be able to keep all children’s cases in Kalamazoo and all cases under the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program.
Without a new federal contract, though, MIRC will likely need to cut 70 staff members, and its capacity to take new cases will be limited. The loss of funding won’t affect its other programs, such as dedicated services for people in immigration detention and facing deportation, and offices in Detroit, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Lansing will be maintained.
Gongwer News Service
More than 500 unaccompanied immigrant children are losing legal support upon the lapse of the federal contract supporting legal services, according to a press release from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
The MIRC has represented every unaccompanied child in federal custody in Michigan during the past several years. In 2026 alone, the nonprofit legal aid organization served 1,100 children.
Now, however, the organization said it is facing difficult decisions about the 948 cases it has open, because without federal funding, it cannot continue every case.
“MIRC remains committed to defending children’s rights and will ethically maintain as many children’s cases as possible,” a press release from the organization said. “However, with such a significant loss of funding, MIRC will only be able to keep about 420 current children’s cases.”
The federal funding was the result of the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which passed Congress with bipartisan support. It set forth requirements for the federal government to establish the Unaccompanied Children Program and protect children from trafficking, abuse and exploitation. A critical part of that was providing kids with legal services.
MIRC attorneys have detailed representing unaccompanied children as young as infants and toddlers in court, who would otherwise be expected to represent themselves before an immigration judge to be granted legal asylum in the U.S.
Last year, the Trump administration attempted to end the funding that provides legal services. It was partially restored through litigation, but the contract ended Aug. 1, and contracts weren’t renewed for the whole network of providers.
Additionally, the government has not paid nonprofits like MIRC since November 2025 for legal services provided under the contract, the press release said, though a federal judge ordered the government to issue the missed payment last week.
“The Unaccompanied Children Program is intended to serve children who have experienced violence, trafficking, abuse and have come to the U.S. seeking safety,” Ana Devereaux, senior managing attorney at MIRC said in a statement. “They arrive frightened, alone, and often unable to understand the language, the legal system, or what will happen to them next. For many, a MIRC lawyer is the first adult whose sole responsibility is to protect their rights, explain the process, and ensure their story is heard. Taking that away doesn't make the system more efficient, it abandons vulnerable children.”?
Due to the support of local funders, the organization will be able to keep all children’s cases in Kalamazoo and all cases under the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program.
Without a new federal contract, though, MIRC will likely need to cut 70 staff members, and its capacity to take new cases will be limited. The loss of funding won’t affect its other programs, such as dedicated services for people in immigration detention and facing deportation, and offices in Detroit, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Lansing will be maintained.
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