Wed Apr 02 07:56:21 UTC 2025: ## Federal Judge Blocks Trump-Era Cut to Legal Aid for Migrant Children
**San Francisco, CA** – A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump administration from cutting off legal aid for tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors facing deportation. The ruling, handed down Tuesday by US District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin, reinstates funding for the Acacia Center for Justice and its subcontractors, effectively halting the termination of legal representation for approximately 26,000 children.
The administration ended its contract with the Acacia Center on March 21st, a move the organization condemned as jeopardizing the well-being of vulnerable children already facing trauma. The lawsuit, filed by Acacia’s subcontractors, argued that a 2008 anti-trafficking law mandates legal counsel for these children, many of whom are too young or lack the language skills to navigate the complex immigration system.
Judge Martinez-Olguin agreed, stating that continued funding “promotes efficiency and fairness within the immigration system.” The temporary order, effective Wednesday and lasting until April 16th, represents the third legal setback for the Trump administration’s immigration policies in less than a week. Previous rulings blocked expedited deportations to non-native countries and suspended the termination of protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans. While these victories are currently temporary, pending further legal proceedings, they signal significant challenges to the administration’s immigration crackdown.
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