California Attorney General Rob Bonta has spearheaded a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the case of Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, et al. vs. United States Department of Health and Human Services, et al. The brief supports a challenge against the Trump Administration’s decision to end funding for legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized his commitment to protecting children’s rights, including those of immigrant children, stating: “As the People’s Attorney I am committed to protecting the safety, wellbeing, and rights of all children – including immigrant children – and ensuring that they have access to legal representation.”
The attorneys general are urging the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a preliminary injunction from the district court. They argue that ending federal funding for legal representation undermines efforts to ensure these children’s safety.
In fiscal year 2024, California received approximately 10,800 unaccompanied children released to sponsors. This number represents 11 percent of all such releases nationwide, second only to Texas. The coalition argues that prolonged federal custody negatively impacts children’s health and development.
The amicus brief highlights several points: federal law’s recognition of legal representation’s importance for unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings; increased gaps in funding and staffing shortfalls without federal support; and potential long-term harms faced by children lacking multidisciplinary support.
Attorney General Bonta leads attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington in this effort.
