Seattle Office of Immigrant And Refugee Affairs Condemns Funding Cuts

The Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is condemning the Trump administration’s decision to slash funding for the Unaccompanied Children Program, a move that will strip legal support from thousands of immigrant minors navigating the U.S. immigration court system.

The near-total termination of the program’s funding, announced on March 21, 2025, will eliminate resources for the legal representation of more than 26,000 children nationwide. Local organizations like Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), which have been essential in providing legal aid, are directly impacted.

“In Seattle, we take pride in the diversity of our communities and recognize that the people and cultures represented from around the world are our strength,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “The decision to cut the Unaccompanied Children Program—forcing immigrant children as young as three years old to represent themselves in court—is unconscionable and stands in direct opposition to our values as a welcoming city. No child should ever be punished for where they were born.”

The consequences of eliminating legal representation for unaccompanied minors are severe. Studies from the Vera Institute of Justice show that more than 90% of children without attorneys are ordered to leave the U.S., while those with legal representation are far more likely to obtain relief.

“The stakes of removal proceedings in immigration court are incredibly high. They can mean the difference between safety and violence, between stability and family separation, and sometimes even between life and death,” said Kayley Bebber, NWIRP Directing Attorney for the Unaccompanied Children Program. “We need to come together to protect access to legal representation for unaccompanied children and youth in Washington State and across the country.”

Since 2017, OIRA has worked alongside KIND and other legal service providers to support unaccompanied children seeking safety in the U.S. Before the funding cut, KIND’s Seattle office served children from over 30 countries, many of whom fled pervasive violence in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. In 2023, KIND provided legal assistance to 69 children in Washington’s immigration courts, with the help of a nationwide network of 900 pro bono law firms.

“The administration’s devastating decision to strip vital legal services away from unaccompanied children runs counter to its stated desire to protect kids from trafficking, exploitation, and other abuses,” said Wendy Young, President of Kids in Need of Defense. “Elimination of these services makes it all but impossible for many unaccompanied children to appear for their immigration court hearings or otherwise remain in touch with immigration agencies. It severs key lines of communication and coordination between vulnerable children and the institutions meant to protect them.”

KIND attorneys provide culturally sensitive legal representation to children eligible for protection due to abuse, neglect, persecution, or other forms of violence. Beyond legal assistance, KIND also connects children to resources such as education, healthcare, emergency funds, and driver’s license assistance. Without these services, children will be left to face the immigration system alone.

In response to the devastating cuts, OIRA has launched a $240,000 Rapid Response Fund to bolster local legal services. The funding will support essential services, including know-your-rights training, family safety planning to prevent separations, and legal consultations for families navigating immigration challenges.

“Children represented in the Unaccompanied Children Program are the promise of our city and state, and this harmful rollback marks a dark day in the history of this country,” said Hamdi Mohamed, OIRA Director. “OIRA remains committed to protecting our refugee and immigrant children, and supporting partner organizations with new rapid response measures to meet these unknown times.”

The Trump administration’s decision is the latest in a series of abrupt policy shifts targeting immigrant communities. In response, OIRA has expanded training programs to educate service providers, business owners, and community organizations about immigration enforcement protocols and how to offer support to affected families.

Advocates say eliminating legal representation for children will not only harm vulnerable minors but also destabilize the immigration system. Legal services ensure efficiency by reducing court backlogs and preventing unnecessary detentions.

“The critical legal programs eliminated today have long-standing bipartisan support from Congress, not only because they protect children from danger, but because they also improve efficiencies in the immigration system,” said Young.

Despite the cuts, Seattle officials and local advocates vow to continue standing with unaccompanied children and the legal service providers fighting to ensure their protection.