Judge halts your tax dollars from funding lawyers for illegal immigrants in stunning reversal of Biden-appointed judge’s demand.
At a Glance
- Federal judge in DC reversed a prior ruling that forced taxpayers to fund legal representation for 26,000 illegal migrant children
- Biden-appointed Judge Araceli Martinez Olguin had initially demanded the government continue funding migrant lawyers
- Trump administration terminated contracts with legal service providers on April 11 following executive orders on immigration
- Advocates claim children as young as 2 years old, potentially victims of trafficking and abuse, could now face deportation without representation
Federal Court Battle: Your Money For Illegals’ Lawyers
In a victory for taxpayers and rule of law, U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss has reinstated the Trump administration’s pause on funding legal representation for illegal migrants. This decision overturns an earlier ruling by Biden-appointed Judge Araceli Martinez Olguin in Oakland, who had demanded the government continue shoveling taxpayer money to progressive legal groups representing illegal aliens. The battle centers around approximately 26,000 unaccompanied minors currently seeking legal status in the United States, with advocates predictably claiming “irreparable harm” will befall these migrants without free attorneys.
“Biden-appointed U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez Olguin had earlier ruled in Oakland, California, that President Donald Trump was not allowed to stop taxpayer funding for progressive groups that provided legal advice to illegal aliens facing deportation.” – Daily Journal.
The case highlights yet another front in the ongoing immigration battle, where the left continually finds ways to convert illegal entry into permanent residence through procedural games and taxpayer-funded legal maneuvers. Judge Moss found no justification to force the Department of Justice to continue funding these legal aid groups while litigation continues. This decision allows the administration to implement its immigration policies without activist judges intervening at every turn to protect those who have entered our country illegally.
Following The Money: $20 Million Annually For Illegal Immigrants
Behind this legal battle is the staggering $20 million in annual funding that Congress allocated for these services. The Department of Justice terminated contracts with service providers on April 11, following Trump’s executive orders on immigration enforcement. This prompted outrage from advocacy organizations who have grown dependent on this taxpayer-funded gravy train. They claim the administration lacks authority to alter congressional funding allocations, conveniently ignoring that the executive branch has discretion in implementing programs within its purview.
“Moss said he did not see any justification to force the Department of Justice (DOJ) to keep funding the legal aid while a lawsuit filed by the nonprofits continues.” – AP.
The nonprofits received a memo instructing more than 100 organizations to immediately stop representing these minors. The contract was set for renewal on March 29 but was terminated instead—a clear signal that the administration is serious about ending incentives that encourage more illegal immigration. Judge Moss has requested the DOJ provide details on the funding cancellation by May 14, likely to determine if proper procedures were followed in terminating these contracts.
The Left’s Predictable Emotional Appeals
Like clockwork, advocates are trotting out sob stories about children as young as 2 years old who might face deportation without legal representation. Ashley Harrington from the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network wasted no time highlighting cases of siblings from Honduras who allegedly fled after their parents were killed by gang members. This emotional manipulation conveniently ignores a crucial question: since when are American taxpayers responsible for providing free lawyers to non-citizens who entered our country illegally?
The surge of unaccompanied minors crossing our southern border has reached alarming proportions, with 128,000 crossing in the 2022 fiscal year alone, mostly from Central America. Rather than addressing the root causes and securing our border, the previous administration created incentives for more illegal crossings by funding legal representation that helps these migrants remain in the country indefinitely. Every dollar spent on lawyers for illegal immigrants is a dollar not spent on American citizens and legal immigrants who play by the rules.
When advocates claim that halting funding will cause “irreparable harm” to migrants, they ignore the irreparable harm done to American sovereignty, taxpayers, and communities bearing the brunt of uncontrolled immigration. The administration’s decision to cancel these contracts represents a return to common sense and prioritizing American interests above those who violate our immigration laws. Judge Moss recognized this reality in his ruling, and Americans fed up with funding this madness can only hope his decision stands.
