Legal aid groups alarmed as Trump administration awards $150M migrant child contract to Texas firm

The Trump administration has awarded a $150 million contract to provide legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children to a Texas law firm, Burke Law Group, according to an August 5, 2026 report by the AP. This decision has alarmed legal aid groups who have long represented these children, as the firm has little experience in immigration law and ties to the administration.

The administration has been intensifying its deportation campaign and recently allowed a key contract with a network of legal groups to expire without replacement. Michael Lukens, head of the Amica Center, expressed shock and concern over the administration's choice, warning that the children could be denied meaningful due process and court representation.

The contract currently covers around 1,800 children in government-run shelters, with an additional 22,000 living outside the system with sponsors like family members. The Department of Health and Human Services, responsible for caring for these children, did not comment on the matter.