SALT LAKE CITY – For years, Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS) has provided legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children who fled dangerous conditions such as abuse and trafficking. Now, recent federal funding cuts threaten the legal support these children rely on.
The Trump administration’s decision to reduce funding for legal representation programs leaves 126 children under CCS’s care at risk of facing immigration court alone.
Young Children Facing Court Without Legal Help
Many of these children, some as young as five or six, arrived in the U.S. alone, having lost parents to violence, neglect, or tragic circumstances. Others were sent away by loving families desperate to secure their safety.
“These children have already been through so much,” said Virginia Maynes, senior immigration attorney at CCS. “Now, without legal counsel, they face an immense challenge in court.”
Legal Representation Increases Chance of Protection
Studies show that children with legal representation are seven times more likely to win protection and stay in the U.S. Without a lawyer, they must present their own case in front of a judge while government attorneys argue for their removal.
“It’s an unfair burden to place on a child,” Maynes emphasized.
If they lose their case, they risk deportation to the very dangers they escaped, putting them at risk of abuse, exploitation, or even death.
CCS Calls for Support
Despite the uncertainty, Maynes remains hopeful that funding will be restored. In the meantime, CCS is seeking donations to continue providing legal assistance to vulnerable children.
“They come here looking for safety, security, and the chance to have a childhood,” Maynes said.
To learn more or contribute, visit ccsutah.org .
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