In the United States, immigrants do not have the right to legal representation in the same way American citizens do. But it’s a different story for children who come to this country alone, thanks to the federally funded Unaccompanied Children Program. It provides legal representation to more than 26,000 children by contracting with non-profit legal aid organizations throughout the country.

On March 21, the Trump Administration sent out a stop-work notice that some organizations are calling a near-termination of the program. The move means children as young as toddlers may be expected to represent themselves in very complicated immigration hearings. In response, a number of organizations that assist kids in the immigration system sued the Trump Administration.\

Thousands of unaccompanied minors have been placed with sponsors across the Pacific Northwest over the past decade, and the ending of contracts supporting them will have very real impacts on people and courts in our region.

 

Guests: 
Matt Adams, Legal Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

 

Related Links: 
Trump Administration Halts Funding for Legal Representation of Migrant Children
Coalition of more than 100 Legal Organizations Denounce Government’s Termination of Unaccompanied Kids Program
White House reportedly halts funding for legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

In the United States, immigrants do not have the right to legal representation in the same way American citizens do. But it&rsquo;s a different story for children who come to this country alone, thanks to the federally funded Unaccompanied Children Program. It provides legal representation to more than 26,000 children by contracting with non-profit legal aid organizations throughout the country.
On March 21, the Trump Administration sent out a stop-work notice that some organizations are calling a near-termination of the program. The move means children as young as toddlers may be expected to represent themselves in very complicated immigration hearings. In response, a number of organizations that assist kids in the immigration system sued the Trump Administration.\
Thousands of unaccompanied minors have been placed with sponsors across the Pacific Northwest over the past decade, and the ending of contracts supporting them will have very real impacts on people and courts in our region.
&nbsp;
Guests: 
<ul>
<li>Matt Adams, Legal Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/us/migrant-children-legal-representation-funding.html">Trump Administration Halts Funding for Legal Representation of Migrant Children</a></li>
<li><a href="https://acaciajustice.org/coalition-of-legal-organizations-denounce-governments-termination-of-unaccompanied-kids-program/">Coalition of more than 100 Legal Organizations Denounce Government&rsquo;s Termination of Unaccompanied Kids Program</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/22/white-house-legal-aid-funding-cuts-unaccompanied-migrant-children">White House reportedly halts funding for legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>.
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Soundside

The Trump Administration sent out a stop-work notice to a number of organizations funded by the Unaccompanied Children Program, which provide legal representation to more than 26,000 children. This move will have very real impacts on the people and courts in our region.

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