Estrella del Paso, the largest provider of free immigration legal services in West Texas and Southern New Mexico, is set to close its Unaccompanied Children Program this Friday. The program’s closure is due to the expiration of a federal funding contract, which is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2026.
Federal Funding Contract Expiration
The contract’s expiration will leave thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children without legal representation, forcing them to navigate the court system alone. Executive Director Melissa M. Lopez warned that without immediate federal action, tens of thousands of children will be forced to represent themselves against trained government attorneys, leading to deportation.
The Defending Our Neighbors Fund has issued emergency grants to several frontline legal service providers to maintain representation for children while federal payments remain stalled. However, providers warn that these funds are not a permanent solution to the loss of federal support.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
