We Stopped Family Separation Once. We Must Stop This, Too | Opinion
Summary
In 2018, President Trump’s first administration separated over 3,000 immigrant children from their parents at the border under a “Zero Tolerance” policy. In 2026, the second Trump administration ended a legal support contract for unaccompanied migrant children and awarded a new contract to a small firm without immigration law experience, leaving over 20,000 children without proper legal help while increasing the time they remain in government custody.Key Facts
- The 2018 “Zero Tolerance” policy led to the separation of more than 3,000 children from their parents at the southern border.
- Many separated children were never reunited with their families.
- In 2026, the government ended its contract with a nonprofit providing legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children.
- Over 20,000 migrant children lost access to legal representation when that contract expired.
- The new $150 million contract was given to a small commercial litigation firm with no immigration law experience.
- The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for caring for unaccompanied children, not immigration enforcement.
- Average time children spend in ORR custody increased from about 30 days in 2024 to more than 200 days in 2026.
- The administration has added extra requirements that delay children’s release to family members or sponsors.
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