'A Lifeline Cut': Texas Nonprofit Ordered to Halt Migrant Legal Programs After 20 Years

An El Paso nonprofit that provides legal aid to migrants facing deportation was notified by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that it needs to terminate two of its programs immediately.

Estrella del Paso confirmed the development via social media. The two programs affected by the termination order are their Legal Orientation Program (LOP) and the Immigration Court Helpdesk (ICH), both of which have served immigrants since 2003.

"The DOJ's decision to terminate these critical legal access programs denies people in ICE detention as well as those going through the deportation process information about their legal rights, the deportation process, and an understanding of the immigration court system in the United States," Estrella del Paso said in a written statement.

The LOP program worked inside two immigration detention centers—El Paso Service Processing Center and the Otero County Processing Center in Southern New Mexico—while the ICH program focused on providing services at the El Paso Non-Detained Court. Some of the services these programs offered to migrants included know-your-rights presentations, individual orientations, self-help workshops, and referrals to attorneys for pro bono representation.

"Since 2003, the Legal Orientation Program has enjoyed bi-partisan Congressional support and funding," Melissa M. Lopez, Executive Director of Estrella del Paso said in a written statement. According to Lopez, the programs are actually beneficial to the federal government, as they save taxpayer dollars by expediting immigration cases.

Lopez also highlighted the importance of these programs for individuals who have no other legal resources. "The LOP and ICH programs are a lifeline for individuals facing deportation and critical to ensuring immigrants receive due process. The elimination of these programs will force individuals to appear before local immigration courts uninformed and unsure how to proceed."

This is not the first time Estrella del Paso's programs have been hit by the federal government. Back in February, the federal government's decision to cut off legal representation to unaccompanied children resulted in funding cuts that caused the furlough of 18 Estrella del Paso employees.

The DOJ first issued a stop work order for the LOP and ICH programs back in January, but the move was countered with a federal lawsuit that same month. That litigation, per Estrella del Paso, is still pending. While the stop-work order issued in January was a temporary halt, the most recent termination order is a permanent measure signed to end both programs.

As the Trump administration ramps up efforts to remove undocumented immigrants from the country, nonprofits offering legal help to migrants have seen a sharp rise in demand, according to several advocacy groups interviewed by the Latin Times. At the same time, these organizations are facing ongoing cuts to federal funding and increased scrutiny from law enforcement for assisting undocumented individuals—many of whom are now being labeled as criminals by top Trump officials, regardless of their actual criminal history.

Adding to the complexity of representing undocumented immigrants' interests. On March 22, President Trump threatened to take legal action against law firms that bring immigration lawsuits against the government that he deems unethical. In a memo directed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump said lawyers were helping to fuel "rampant fraud and meritless claims" in the immigration system, and directed the Justice Department to seek sanctions against attorneys for professional misconduct.

Titled "Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court," Trump's memo accused immigration attorneys of "unscrupulous behavior," saying that they frequently "coach clients to conceal their past or lie about their circumstances when asserting their asylum claims."

More than two months into his second presidential term, Trump and his administration have been hit with more than 100 lawsuits challenging executive orders or actions on a wide arrange of issues, including immigration. Legal advocacy groups such as the ACLU, along with at least 12 major law firms, have brought many of the cases, including the case involving the expulsion of alleged Venezuelan gang members.