Eliminating Legal Protections for Unaccompanied Children Increases Vulnerability to Trafficking and Abuse

Brighton, MI – The Alliance to End Human Trafficking (AEHT) strongly opposes the Trump Administration’s decision to eliminate critical legal services for 26,000 unaccompanied children in the United States, including support for legal representation, case coordination, and safety screenings.

Katie Boller Gosewisch, Executive Director of the Alliance, states, “Removing these protections increases the vulnerability of children, many of whom have fled violence or instability, to human trafficking, exploitation, and other forms of harm. Without legal guidance and representation, these children will be unable to navigate complex immigration proceedings alone, making them far more vulnerable to traffickers and other predators.”

These legal services have long been a critical safeguard, helping ensure that children are not lost in the system, denied due process, or placed in harm’s way.

This action destroys a critical pathway to justice and protection, and it contradicts the government’s own stated commitment to preventing trafficking and supporting child welfare.

The impact will be immediate and devastating—not only for the tens of thousands of children affected, but for the communities and systems responsible for their care.

Congress must act.

For years, bipartisan legislation has funded legal services for unaccompanied children, recognizing their essential role in safeguarding vulnerable youth and ensuring fair, efficient immigration proceedings.

Boller Gosewisch continues, “The Alliance to End Human Trafficking urges Congress to include funding for these services in the FY 2026 federal appropriations package to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, including full legal representation for all unaccompanied children. The safety of thousands of children, and our nation’s commitment to preventing human trafficking, depends on it.”

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About The Alliance to End Human Trafficking: Alliance to End Human Trafficking was founded in 2013 by a group of Catholic Sisters committed to ending human trafficking and supporting survivors. They created a national network of resources and support that includes many different congregations of women religious and mission-aligned partners. Today, this member-based organization has grown to include more than 115 Communities of Women Religious and another 100+ individuals and organizations spread throughout the United States. AEHT is the U.S. member of Talitha Kum, the international network of consecrated life working to end human trafficking.

Category: Press Release