In a significant development following President Trump’s second inauguration, Ruby Robinson visited Detroit’s immigration court to announce the closure of a vital help desk for individuals facing deportation.
The closure of the desk, operated by the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, came as a direct consequence of a Trump executive order that forced the Justice Department to instruct nonprofit organizations to “stop work immediately” on four federally funded immigration assistance programs.
“There were individuals in the waiting room who we could have helped, but due to this order, we cannot provide assistance at this time,” stated Robinson, managing attorney for the center. Since opening in December 2021, the help desk has aided approximately 10,000 individuals.
Without these essential programs, which educate individuals in immigration courts and detention centers about their rights and the intricate legal process, many will be left to navigate the system alone. Advocates are concerned that the already backlogged immigration courts will face further challenges as Trump looks to fulfill his campaign pledge to crack down on illegal immigration.
In response, a coalition of nonprofit organizations has filed a lawsuit to challenge the stop-work order and restore access to these critical programs.
Despite the lack of federal funding, staff members at the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights attempted to provide services at a Virginia detention center the day after the stop-work order was issued. They were quickly escorted out by detention center staff, who informed them that they could no longer offer assistance. Executive director Michael Lukens described the halt in services as “devastating.”
“We often hear from detainees that they are unaware of the reasons for their detention or what will happen next. We are now prohibited from providing even basic orientation,” Lukens remarked.
Lawyers at a help desk within Chicago’s immigration court assisted over 2,000 individuals in 2024. The National Immigrant Justice Center initiated this program in 2013 and expanded it with federal funding three years later.
Since the introduction of the stop-work order, organizations have been offering limited services, but their sustainability remains uncertain due to the void left by funding cuts, according to a spokesperson.
Several organizations have reported that posters providing information about their services and legal assistance hotlines have been removed from detention centers.
Congress allocates $29 million annually for the four programs, which include the Legal Orientation Program and the Immigration Court Helpdesk. This funding is shared among various organizations nationwide that deliver these services. Despite bipartisan support, the funding amount remains constant regardless of the number of individuals assisted, prompting organizations to seek additional fundraising.
During Trump’s first term, these programs faced similar threats, yet the backlash from organizations and bipartisan congressional support led to a reversal of the funding cuts. However, the recent stop-work order was a sudden and abrupt action, catching program staff unprepared.
Immigration law is notoriously complex, and unlike criminal courts, individuals do not have a right to legal representation if they cannot afford an attorney, leaving many to navigate the system without assistance.
The immigration court backlog exceeds 3.7 million cases, often leaving individuals in limbo for extended periods. When individuals are informed about their situation and rights, court proceedings tend to accelerate, as judges can spend less time explaining basic procedures.
Individuals also benefit from informed decision-making regarding their immigration cases—whether to pursue legal remedies or to return home—ultimately easing the strain on the system, according to Edna Yang of American Gateways, which serves three detention centers and the immigration court in San Antonio, Texas.
“Eliminating programs that provide essential information will not resolve the underlying issues; it will only exacerbate them,” Yang emphasized.
These organizations are crucial in ensuring due process rights are upheld, notifying individuals of critical filing deadlines, facilitating translation services, and preventing unlawful deportation orders for asylum seekers.
Milagro, a 69-year-old Venezuelan woman, arrived in the U.S. in May 2024 after spending four years in Mexico. She applied for asylum due to political persecution but found the help desk at the El Paso immigration court closed due to the stop-work order.
“It’s incredibly frustrating; the opportunity to seek advice has been taken away,” she expressed in Spanish. “It’s a feeling of helplessness and isolation.”
Without assistance, she fears that she will have to divert much of her earnings as a caretaker for a centenarian to hire legal help ahead of her upcoming court appearance.
