Letter Text (PDF)

Washington (February 25, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) led the entire Massachusetts congressional delegation, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09), in writing to Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging the Trump administration to maintain funding for legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children. The administration generated confusion and distress when it issued—and mere days later, rescinded—an order that would jeopardize the safety and welfare of vulnerable minors, including infants and toddlers, by stripping them of critical legal representation. In Massachusetts, several hundred unaccompanied minors stood to lose their lawyers and more than 2,000 children who receive services short of full legal representation faced the loss of assistance. The lawmakers urge the administration to renew the contract that provides immigrant minors the legal help they require.  

In the letter, the lawmakers write, “For decades, esteemed organizations across the nation have steadfastly provided indispensable legal services, social support, and foster care to these at-risk minors. The recent stop-work order egregiously undermined this longstanding commitment to child welfare and due process. Maintaining and renewing the unaccompanied child legal services program contract is critical for fulfilling our legal obligations and abiding by the foundational principles of justice and compassion that define our nation.”

The lawmakers request responses by March 11 to questions that include:

  • What was the internal decision-making process that led to the issuance of the February 18 stop-work order? Which officials within the Department of the Interior, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services were involved in reviewing and approving this directive?
  • What specific legal, policy, or budgetary considerations were cited as the rationale for initially terminating legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children? Was a formal impact assessment conducted before this decision was made? If so, please provide a copy? If not, why not?
  • Prior to issuing the stop-work order, were affected organizations, legal service providers, child welfare experts, or other stakeholders consulted about the potential consequences of this decision? If so, please provide documentation of these discussions and any recommendations made. If not, why not?
  • What was the internal decision-making process that led to the rescission of the February 18 stop-work order? Which officials within the Department of the Interior, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services were involved in reviewing and approving this rescission?
  • Has the Department of the Interior or the Department of Health and Human Services developed a position regarding the renewal of the unaccompanied child legal services program contract?

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