The information in this blog post is current as of July 2, 2025.
The work that legal service providers do to support unaccompanied children has never been easy, and it grows more challenging by the day. To show the critical difference legal representation makes in the lives of unaccompanied immigrant children, CILA created this new one-pager with information on the issues, an overview of the legal services provided to unaccompanied children, and the difference CILA makes as a capacity-building organization. With this resource, we wanted to share information about this important work and the impact representation has for unaccompanied immigrant children.
On March 21, 2025, federal funding for much of the decades-long unaccompanied children’s legal services program was terminated. This program is critical to protecting vulnerable children of all ages and directly impacts CILA’s work and that of many organizations nationwide. Read the ABA’s statement and a news article to learn more. On April 29, 2025, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit challenging the government’s decision to terminate services and ordered restoration of funding for legal services for unaccompanied children. The government appealed and sought a stay of the order during appeal, but the stay was denied. The litigation is ongoing. Read more about the case here and see additional details from ImmDef, one plaintiff in the matter, here.
Learn More
- Read more about how immigrant children are being impacted by changed policies from the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and the potential impacts of the Reconciliation Bill on immigrant children in this explainer.
- Learn more from the ABA Commission on Immigration on the critical role of legal representation for unaccompanied children in this explainer.
- View the Immigration Policy Immigration Tracker to get details on immigration law and policy changes.
- Follow immigration litigation with Justice Action Center’s Litigation Tracker.
Times continue to be challenging and unprecedented. CILA is in need of support to ensure our future. Donate to CILA.
About CILA
The Children’s Immigration Law Academy (CILA) is a project of the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Immigration. CILA’s small but dedicated expert team helps legal and social services practitioners and pro bono attorneys stay up to date on frequent changes in immigration law and policy.
With a one-to-many model, by providing training, writing practice advisories and guides, hosting working groups, and answering technical assistance questions, CILA helps practitioners stay up to date on complex immigration law changes, and provides skills-based training and materials on working with children and trial advocacy. CILA also connects pro bono attorneys with children needing representation and showcases expert tips, ideas, and resources to enhance pro bono programs. CILA is the only expert legal resource center focused entirely on children’s immigration matters nationwide.
Later this year, we hope to celebrate CILA’s 10th anniversary. We ask that you support CILA with a donation during this urgent time for us as an organization, so we can continue our important work. Thank you for your support!
You can learn more about CILA, read testimonials about us from advocates, and check out our Annual Reports to read about CILA’s overall impact.
Help protect the rights of immigrants, strengthen due process in our immigration system, and enhance efficiency in our immigration courts by urging Congress to fund two vital programs.
- Write to Members of Congress to support the Unaccompanied Children Program (UCP), which ensures vulnerable children have access to critical legal services, including representation, while enhancing court efficiency.
- Write to Members of Congress to support the Legal Orientations Program (LOP), which provides noncitizens with essential access to legal information and assistance, relieving heavy burdens placed on the already backlogged immigration courts.