A Mexican-American judge in California has decided to temporarily suspend the Trump administration's measure that provided for the cutting of funding to a program aimed at the legal representation of unaccompanied migrant children. The decision was handed down by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez Olguin, who found that the groups responsible for the lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services suffered immediate financial impacts, demonstrating concrete and imminent economic loss.

According to an article by ABC, the magistrate says the consequences of the interruption of funding characterize irreparable damage, which justifies the issuance of an injunction to temporarily prevent the suspension of resources. She also pointed out that ending this support would directly compromise the mission of the organizations involved, as it would limit their ability to offer legal assistance to children facing immigration proceedings without the presence of family members.

The judge emphasized that maintaining funding not only protects the rights of these children, but also contributes to the efficiency and fairness of the U.S. immigration system. The program in question, which was being threatened, is responsible for providing legal representation to about 26,000 migrant minors. In addition, it allows the hiring of lawyers and the recruitment of specialized professionals to act in these cases.

In the week before the court ruling, the organizations involved were informed that their contracts had been partially terminated, resulting in the suspension of more than $200 million in federal grants. Given this scenario, several institutions expressed concern about the impact of the measure.

Among them is the Amica Center, which works to represent migrant children in the Washington, D.C. area. Its executive director, Michael Lukens, called the judge's decision a victory for children's rights advocates, stressing that it was just the beginning of a broader fight. Lukens also stressed that the protection of migrant children must be above political disputes, advocating for continued legal support for this vulnerable group.