Controversy Over Legal Services Contracts for Migrant Children

Children wait outside of an immigration court at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on July 31, 2026, in New York City. The Trump administration has awarded a no-bid $158 million contract to Our Rescue, an anti-human trafficking organization, to provide legal services to unaccompanied migrant children. This decision sparked controversy due to the organization’s lack of clear immigration law expertise.

Our Rescue, previously known as Operation Underground Railroad, claims to assist law enforcement in sting operations against human traffickers. However, it’s uncertain whether the group has immigration lawyers on its staff. Their website mentions providing “legal support to help prosecute offenders,” but NPR’s request for comment went unanswered. The organization was founded by activist Tim Ballard, who was featured in the 2023 film ‘Sound of Freedom.’ Despite the film’s promotion, Ballard faced accusations related to sexual exploitation. He denied the allegations but was removed from Our Rescue, now led by CEO Derek Benner, a former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) stated that the contract with Our Rescue would last six months, from August 7 to February 6, 2027. The ORR collaborates with other providers, such as the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, to ensure unaccompanied immigrant children have legal representation in court.

Michael Lukens, Executive Director of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, criticized the decision, highlighting Our Rescue’s controversial history and lack of expertise in legal services for children. His organization previously provided legal services under an expired contract. Lukens contended that the decision could harm children and believed it contributed to chaos in the system.

About 24,000 immigrant children are currently deemed unaccompanied in the U.S., although only 1,800 are in the custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These minors lack lawful immigration status and have no legal guardian in the U.S. The contract’s timing followed the expiration of a previous contract with a group of nearly 100 legal nonprofits, leaving attorneys searching for ways to maintain representation for these children.

ORR noted its use of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants to provide legal representation since August 5. This assistance will continue until December 31, but Lukens pointed out that no long-term contract is in place, leading to instability in the system.

Despite the lack of funding, Lukens stated that organizations like the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights continue to support unaccompanied minors, maintaining continuity in their legal representation. The Trump administration halted payments to these legal nonprofits in November due to resistance over confidential information requests.

This contract is part of a trend of awarding contracts to entities with connections to the administration. Derek Benner, Our Rescue’s CEO, previously held a director position at the Department of Homeland Security. The administration also indicated plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Texas-based firm with ties to the Trump administration. Following media scrutiny, Burke Law Group withdrew from the process.

A co-founder of Burke Law Group, Marcella Burke, served in the Trump administration, while another partner, Jeffrey Hall, currently works at the EPA. The firm acknowledged they were approached by the administration to fill a gap in legal services but chose not to apply for the contract.