Global rights groups raise alarm over child protections
United Nations human rights experts have sharply criticized the Trump administration for ending legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children in US immigration cases. They say the decision leaves vulnerable children to face complex legal systems alone and puts their basic rights at risk.
The criticism followed recent remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. He urged the US government to ensure its immigration policies respect international law and protect individual rights, especially those of children.
Legal aid cuts spark international backlash
According to the experts, denying children access to lawyers forces them to navigate immigration courts without support. They warned that this violates core child rights principles and undermines fair legal process.
In February, the US Department of the Interior ordered legal service providers working with unaccompanied children to stop their work. Funding for these programs was also cut. As a result, several providers filed a lawsuit. A federal judge later stepped in and temporarily restored the funding while the case continues.
Deportation plans draw strong criticism
The decision came as part of a broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump. That effort includes plans to deport hundreds of thousands of migrant children who entered the country without their parents.
UN experts said these deportations are unlawful under international human rights law. They stressed that children, especially those at risk of trafficking, must not be treated as removable groups without special safeguards.
Objections to cash incentive plan
The experts also condemned a separate proposal offering $2,500 to encourage unaccompanied children to leave the US voluntarily. They argued that financial pressure on children in unstable situations raises serious ethical concerns.
They called on the US government to guarantee child focused justice procedures in all immigration and asylum cases involving minors. The experts said they remain in contact with US officials but have not received public responses so far.
The White House and the State Department did not comment on the issue.
