Judge Temporarily Restores Legal Aid for Migrant Children

A federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily restore legal funding for unaccompanied migrant children, counteracting an earlier termination of a contract with the Acacia Center for Justice. This decision affects approximately 26,000 children who rely on these legal services, which were halted due to a government directive in March. The plaintiffs argued that the termination violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, which mandates legal representation for unaccompanied minors. Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín found that stopping the funding could impede fairness and efficiency in the immigration system and cause irreparable harm to the children involved. The order will remain in effect until April 16 while the case continues. This ruling marks another legal challenge to the Trump administration's immigration policies, which have faced multiple setbacks in recent weeks.