On August 1, 2026, the federal government ended its contract providing legal representation to more than 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children. Attorneys report immigration judges have since taken a 'deport at all costs' approach toward these young clients, rushing them through hearings without time for pending applications—many involving children who qualify for relief because they were abused, abandoned, neglected or trafficked—to be adjudicated. Reporting in September revealed White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller has been leading a broader effort across government agencies to accelerate the removal of undocumented children.