Migrant Children Face Deportation in Palm Beach County After Deal Expires

On July 31st, 2026, CP24 reported that up to 20,000 children in the United States could face deportation because of yet another anti-immigration step taken by the current administration. With the government set to let a key deal expire, these children could soon face deportation in Palm Beach County. Can an immigration lawyer help?

Federal Government Will No Longer Cover the Cost of Legal Defense for Migrant Children

Under a previous contract with the federal government, legal service providers were able to represent migrant children in deportation defense proceedings while sending the bill to the American taxpayer. However, the current administration has signaled its intent to allow this deal to expire, leaving up to 20,000 children without federally funded legal representation.

The only other option for many of these children may be to hire a private deportation defense attorney. Obviously, many of the children may not have access to the necessary funds to pay for private deportation defense. This development applies specifically to children who arrived in the United States without a parent or guardian.

The only silver lining is that legal groups will have one last opportunity to visit children in detention centers and give presentations. The goal is to give the children a concrete understanding of their legal rights before many of them are completely abandoned by their lawyers. There is some indication that current legal providers may be replaced by other legal groups as the contract expires, but nothing is guaranteed.

Attorneys and other representatives of these legal groups are far from optimistic. They also say that without legal representation, many of the children will quickly be ejected from the country by immigration courts. The fact that some of these legal groups are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars by the federal government further underlines the fact that this deal has reached its conclusion.

Do Deportees Get Access to Public Defenders?

Many people mistakenly believe that deportees get access to public defenders in the United States thanks to the Sixth Amendment. However, deportation proceedings technically fall under the category of “civil law” rather than criminal law. As a result, the Sixth Amendment does not apply, and deportees must hire their own deportation defense lawyers out of their own pocket.

This is why federally funded representation and pro bono work are so important when it comes to deportation defense. That said, private deportation defense may be more affordable than many realize, so it’s worth at least scheduling a consultation with an attorney.

Can a Deportation Defense Lawyer in Palm Beach County Help Me?

If you know a child who might soon face deportation, a Palm Beach County deportation defense lawyer may be able to help. The expiry of a federal legal services contract means that private deportation defense lawyers may be necessary to help vulnerable children stay in the country. Learn more by contacting The Devore Law Group today.

Source:

cp24.com/news/world/2026/07/31/thousands-of-migrant-children-in-the-us-could-face-new-deportation-risks-as-legal-aid-deal-expires/