Washington, D.C. – In response to today’s order by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services abruptly stopping federally-funded vital services, including facilitating pro bono representation and other legal assistance for unaccompanied children, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) President Wendy Young issued the following statement:
“This devastating stop-work order comes as the administration reviews all federal spending. We urge the administration to prioritize evaluating this unaccompanied-children’s program and immediately reinstate this funding, which supports vital work to protect unaccompanied children, some as young as toddlers, against trafficking, exploitation, and other abuses that make them easy prey for those who would do them harm. Eliminating this essential funding immediately impedes efficiencies in the immigration system that depend on the assistance of legal counsel for unaccompanied children who otherwise must navigate a complex court proceeding alone. This includes facilitating private-sector pro bono legal services that KIND oversees with almost 900 law firms, corporations, law schools, and bar associations at no cost to the government. The danger these children will face without this vital funding cannot be overstated.”
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Media Contact: Megan McKenna, mmckenna@supportkind.org, 202-631-9990