The federal government plans to allocate $150 million to a Texas law firm for representing unaccompanied immigrant children during immigration proceedings. This decision comes amid concerns over the firm’s lack of experience in immigration law.
Government’s Legal Obligation
The government is legally required to protect migrant children who arrive in the country without guardians. These minors are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, or trafficking. Legal representation is critical for young children to prevent deportation.
Contract Details
Houston-based Burke Law Group, comprising 24 attorneys, primarily focuses on environmental and regulatory matters, with only two specializing in immigration and asylum cases. The firm’s co-founder, Marcella Burke, and founding partner, Jeffrey Hall, have ties to the Trump administration, raising questions about the contract’s suitability.
Roxana Avila-Cimpeanu, of the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, criticized the government’s choice, highlighting the firm’s limited immigration experience.
Response and Concerns
Both the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Burke Law Group declined to comment. The proposed contract follows the expiration of a previous agreement with nearly 100 legal nonprofits. These organizations had refused to share confidential data about the children, citing attorney-client privilege.
Lawsuits are underway, with legal nonprofits claiming the federal government owes them $65 million. Immigrant rights advocates question awarding the contract to Burke Law Group.
Current and Future Implications
The current contract covers about 1,800 children in shelters. However, the fate of nearly 22,000 children outside HHS shelters remains uncertain. Michael Lukens, of Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, noted that no official contract exists to serve these minors.
Acacia Center for Justice emphasized the need for experienced organizations to handle complex immigration cases involving vulnerable children. Immigrant rights groups continue to provide free legal services amid financial challenges.
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