US Funding Cuts Leave 26,000 Unaccompanied Migrant Children Without Legal Defense

AI Justice reports that funding cuts to legal aid organizations have left nearly 26,000 unaccompanied migrant children in the US without legal representation, extending shelter stays and accelerating deportations. The claim is based on NGO reporting and not yet independently verified. This development signals a shift in US immigration enforcement that increases vulnerability of minors and may strain the asylum system.