Unaccompanied minor and infant appear before Arizona judge without legal counsel

In an Arizona immigration hearing, a 17-year-old mother and her newborn were present without legal representation, underscoring a growing trend after the Trump administration sought to end federal funding for aid to unaccompanied minors. Roxana Avila-Cimpeanu, a lawyer with Florence Immigrant-Refugee Rights Project, described the period as the most serious offensive against children she has witnessed in a decade. Although a federal judge blocked the proposed funding cut to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the government continued to withhold payments, disrupting a network of NGOs that provide legal help.

The administration also terminated its contract with Acacia Center for Justice, which coordinated dozens of service providers. Subsequent attempts to shift asylum processing to private firms and other groups have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups, who warn that vulnerable children should not become political bargaining chips.