特朗普政府向德州律师事务所Burke Law Group提供1.5亿美元联邦合同，以代理独自入境美国的移民儿童，但该事务所于本周三宣布拒绝这一申请[1]。这一决定引发了关于谁将为这些儿童提供法律代理的长期担忧。
此前与近100个移民儿童服务机构合作的合同已于7月底到期，目前没有替代方案[1]。根据数据，约1,800名儿童目前住在收容所，另有约22,000名面临遣返的儿童与家庭成员等外部担保人同住[1]。根据2008年《贩运受害者保护重新授权法》，政府必须为进入遣返诉讼程序的儿童提供法律代理[1]。
Burke Law Group拥有少于30名律师，其中仅有2名具有移民相关经验[1]。政府已向美国难民和移民委员会（USCRI）授予临时合同，金额为2,000万美元，至年底[1]。8月6日，加州联邦法官下令联邦政府向服务提供商支付欠款[1]。Acacia司法中心确认各团体已收到欠款中6个月的付款，其余款项正在处理中[1]。
Burke Law Group, a small Texas-based law firm with ties to the Trump administration, has rejected a $150 million federal contract to provide legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children, the firm announced Wednesday [1]. The decision raises immediate questions about who will represent these vulnerable minors, as a critical gap in legal services has already emerged following the expiration of previous contracts with nearly 100 migrant child service organizations at the end of July [1].
The refusal comes at a time when legal representation is particularly urgent. Approximately 1,800 children are currently residing in government shelters, while roughly 22,000 more children facing deportation are living with family members and other sponsors [1]. Under the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, the federal government is legally required to provide legal representation for children entering deportation proceedings [1]. Burke Law Group's capacity to meet this need appeared limited from the outset, given that the firm employs fewer than 30 lawyers, of whom only two have immigration-related experience [1].
To address the immediate shortfall, the government has awarded a temporary $20 million contract to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) through the end of the year [1]. Meanwhile, a federal judge in California ordered the government on August 6 to pay outstanding funds to service providers [1]. According to Acacia Justice Center, various organizations have received six months of back payments, with remaining amounts still being processed [1].