NC nonprofit that represents immigrant children analyzing judge’s reversal of Trump
A judge has ordered the federal government to temporarily resume funding for groups that represent children who came to the United States alone in immigration court, The New York Times reported.
That appears to include the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, which has raised concerns about funding cuts over the last few weeks.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services gave money to the Acacia Center for Justice, which then provided it to groups like the Charlotte nonprofit. Last week, the local nonprofit’s chief executive officer said the Trump administration’s decision to quit paying for the work was “a direct attack on children’s rights and well-being.”
U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín in California’s northern district said Tuesday that the government potentially violated its obligations to protect children from human trafficking, according to the Times’ reporting.
“We are trying to figure out exactly how this is affecting us,” Kelly Lynn, chief philanthropy officer at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, said in an email Wednesday.
Charlotte is home to an immigration court that hears cases from both North Carolina and South Carolina. Like others around the country, it is heavily backlogged.
No one is guaranteed an attorney in immigration court, including children. Nonprofits have filled the gap with the government’s funding.
The federal judge’s temporary order is set to expire April 16, and parties will be able to file more briefs before a final decision, according to the Times.
Ryan Oehrli covers criminal justice in the Charlotte region for The Charlotte Observer. His work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The Observer maintains full editorial control of its journalism.