Education, recreation, legal aid for unaccompanied minors part of budget cuts amid increased immigration
The increase in immigration at the southern border has prompted the Trump administration to make budget cuts — and the White House is opting to slash English classes, recreational programs, and legal aid for unaccompanied minors staying federal shelters across the country to avoid running out of money by the end of June, The Washington Post reports.
Although education and recreation for minors in custody are mandated by a federal court settlement and state licensing requirements, the Office of Refugee Resettlement has begun to discontinue funding for services that are "not directly necessary for the protection of life and safety." Carlos Holguin, a lawyer representing minors, said he is prepared to battle the government in the court room to prevent the cuts from going through.
"What's next?," he asked. "Drinking water? Food?"
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A shelter employee speaking on condition of anonymity told the Post that the cuts have alarmed workers, who fear the care for the children will suffer. The employee pondered over what the minors will do without those services.
Federal officials have asked Congress for $2.9 billion in emergency funding to expand shelters and care. Read more at The Washington Post.
-
Europe’s apples are peppered with toxic pesticidesUnder the Radar Campaign groups say existing EU regulations don’t account for risk of ‘cocktail effect’
-
Political cartoons for February 1Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include Tom Homan's offer, the Fox News filter, and more
-
Will SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic make 2026 the year of mega tech listings?In Depth SpaceX float may come as soon as this year, and would be the largest IPO in history
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown liquidSpeed Read This ‘small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work’
-
Democrats pledge Noem impeachment if not firedSpeed Read Trump is publicly defending the Homeland Security secretary
-
The billionaires’ wealth tax: a catastrophe for California?Talking Point Peter Thiel and Larry Page preparing to change state residency
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
