Baltimore, MD — Maryland’s Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown, has allied with a group of 20 state attorneys general to submit an amicus brief against the Trump Administration’s choice to cut funding for legal aid offered to unaccompanied immigrant minors.
This brief, presented to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, backs the plaintiffs in the case Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, et al. v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, et al., and calls on the court to maintain a preliminary injunction that prevents the Trump Administration’s reduction of support.
“Children who come to the U.S. by themselves are often fleeing unimaginable violence,” said Maryland’s Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown. “Without lawyers to advocate for them, these traumatized children will be left to navigate complex immigration court proceedings alone, making them far more likely to be deported – even if they have a legitimate claim to stay here in Maryland.”
“Unaccompanied children arriving in this country are some of the most vulnerable people in our legal system,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. “Without legal representation, many may be forced to appear alone in court, unable to defend their rights. Denying them that support shouldn’t be a policy choice. Ensuring these children have access to legal counsel is a matter of fairness, safety, and basic human decency enshrined into our laws by Congress. I stand with my colleagues in urging the Court to protect this critical funding.”
“As the People’s Attorney I am committed to protecting the safety, wellbeing, and rights of all children – including immigrant children – and ensuring that they have access to legal representation,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s attempt to roll back the rights of unaccompanied children not only undermines their safety but also increases the risk of legal complications, educational challenges, and other lasting harms.”
The attorneys general argue that cutting off federal funding for legal representation harms vulnerable children and undermines efforts by the states to ensure their well-being. Many unaccompanied children are ultimately placed with sponsors in these states, where they integrate into communities, attend school, and begin building new lives.
The brief outlines several key points:
- Federal law recognizes the importance of providing legal representation to children in immigration proceedings;
- Ending the funding will widen gaps in legal service coverage, creating staffing and resource shortages;
- Lack of legal support will result in long-lasting harm to children, particularly by disrupting their physical, mental, and emotional development.
The coalition highlighted that extended periods in federal custody can negatively impact a child’s health and future opportunities, reinforcing the urgency for prompt legal action.
“Abandoning support for children who have come to America fleeing violence and abuse is unbelievably cruel,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Everyone – no matter who they are – deserves legal help, especially children without a parent or guardian to rely on. Immigration lawyers can help children get the health care, housing, and education they need, and I will keep fighting to ensure no child is left to fend for themselves.”
Attorney General Brown was supported in the brief by the attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
This case signifies a larger initiative by state leaders to oppose federal measures that would remove protections for at-risk immigrant groups—particularly children who are navigating the legal system without assistance.
