On July 31, 2026, unaccompanied migrant children and members of their families appeared before an immigration judge at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City for a deportation hearing. The participants entered the courtroom without any legal representation.
The lack of counsel was traced to a brief expiration of the contract that funds court‑appointed attorneys for unaccompanied minors facing removal. When the contract lapsed, the mechanism that normally assigns a lawyer to each child ceased to operate, leaving many minors without assistance at the hearing.
Under existing immigration procedures, the court is required to provide a qualified attorney to each unaccompanied minor. The assigned counsel typically assists the child in understanding the charges, preparing a response, and presenting any applicable relief. In this instance, the children were required to represent themselves, a circumstance that is atypical for removal proceedings.
The U.S. government, which oversees the contract for legal‑services, acknowledged the temporary gap and indicated that steps were being taken to reinstate the agreement. Officials said the interruption was not intentional and that restoring the service was a priority to ensure minors receive the representation mandated by law.
The episode illustrates how the continuity of legal‑aid contracts directly affects the ability of vulnerable migrants to navigate complex immigration hearings. Families reported that they proceeded with the hearing despite the absence of lawyers, underscoring the challenges that arise when court‑appointed counsel is unavailable. The hearing continued as scheduled, and the judge proceeded with the removal proceedings despite the lack of representation.