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Feds reverse decision on legal aid for detained migrants

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feeds.texastribune.org – By Uriel J. García – 2025-02-04 14:15:00

Justice Department restarts legal aid programs for detained immigrants

Justice Department restarts legal aid programs for detained immigrants” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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The U.S. Department of Justice reversed a recent order preventing legal aid groups from providing services to immigrants in federal detention centers and immigration courts after the Trump administration was sued for freezing federal payments.

On Jan. 22, a DOJ memo told legal providers to “stop work immediately” in the four programs that provide legal services to detained immigrants, including the Legal Orientation Program, which Congress has funded since 2003. The other programs include Immigration Court Helpdesk, Counsel for Children Initiative and Family Group Legal Orientation Program.

“We welcome the news that the stop-work order on Acacia’s legal access programs has been lifted,” said Shaina Aber, Executive Director of the Acacia Center for Justice, which is the contractor that has provided legal services for detained migrants. “We will continue working alongside the Department of Justice to ensure that these critical services and bastions of due process are fully restored and our partners in the legal field can resume their work without future disruption or delay.”

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights and other nonprofit immigrant rights organizations — including one in Austin and one in El Paso — sued the Trump administration on Friday, saying the DOJ’s stop-work order was illegal but also would have “devastating and irreparable effects” on detained migrants.

The Acacia Center for Justice said a federal judge, ruling in a different lawsuit, ordered the Trump administration to restore federal funding for grants and other programs that it had abruptly frozen.

The programs provide legal services to immigrants facing deportation. There are 3.5 million cases in immigration courts nationwide, up from about half a million in 2014. Many of them are asylum claims, which can take up to five years to resolve.

Unlike defendants in the criminal justice system, detained migrants don’t have a right to an attorney but can seek one on their own. About 25% of immigrants have a lawyer to represent them during immigration court proceedings, according to an analysis of immigration data by the Vera Institute for Justice, a criminal justice reform advocacy group based in New York. According to the National Immigrant Justice Center, immigrants with a lawyer are more likely to win their cases.

Edna Yang, co-executive director of Austin-based American Gateways, said in a court filing that without legal services the organization provides, some migrants may be deported because they weren’t informed about their rights. American Gateways, an immigrant rights advocacy group and subcontractor for the federal program, served 7,000 detained migrants in 2024 across three immigration detention centers in Texas.

Melissa Mari Lopez, executive director of Estrella Del Paso, which also provides legal services in immigration courts and a migrant detention center, said without federal funding, it would cost the group $83,000 a month to continue providing legal services for migrants.

“For an organization our size in El Paso, the monthly cost is incredibly difficult to make up at the pace that is needed,” she said.


Correction, :

A previous version of this story misidentified an immigrant rights group involved in the lawsuit against the Trump administration. It’s the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, not the Acacia Center for Justice.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/04/texas-immigrant-legal-aid-federal-program-department-justice/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

News from the South - Texas News Feed

A developer bought up 70 properties on a historically Black street. The community doesn't know what's next 

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www.kxan.com – Kelly Wiley – 2025-02-16 07:00:00

SUMMARY: Myrtle Holmes Wilson, 79, is deeply moved by her late mother’s image adorning their family business, Victory Grill, a historic Black-owned restaurant in East Austin. Founded by her father, Johnny Holmes, the establishment is one of the last of its kind on East 11th Street, once a vibrant Black entertainment area. Wilson faces constant developer buyout offers but refuses to sell, wanting to honor her family’s legacy amid ongoing neighborhood changes. With significant properties purchased by Eureka Holdings, community members, including Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, express concerns over the lack of protective measures for East Austin’s historical sites and culture.

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Local softball team continues practice after shooting crime scene at Woodlawn Lake Park

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www.youtube.com – KSAT 12 – 2025-02-15 22:14:23

SUMMARY: A Park police officer shot and injured a man at Woodlawn Lake Park after he approached her with a knife. The incident began when a 30-year-old man crashed his car into the lake. When the officer approached him, he got out wielding a knife in an aggressive manner. After multiple commands to drop the weapon, the officer shot him in the torso. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition but was conscious. Nearby park-goers, who expressed shock about the incident, were thankful no one else was harmed. The park reopened a few hours later.

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A local softball team continued their practice at Woodlawn Lake Park, even as a nearby crime scene unfolded.

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Family remembers Houston man killed in wrong-way crash on I-45

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www.youtube.com – KHOU 11 – 2025-02-15 22:08:31

SUMMARY: A Houston family is grieving the loss of 58-year-old Steve Nartey, who died in a wrong-way crash on I-45 early on February 6th. Authorities believe Monica Valdez, 32, was intoxicated when she crashed into his Jeep. Nartey, an engineer who moved from Ghana to provide a better life for his family, was described as selfless, dependable, and deeply passionate about his loved ones and faith. His family urges the community to think twice before driving under the influence, stressing the importance of safety for everyone on the road. Valdez has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.

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Loved ones said Steve Nartey was on his way home from work when he tragically lost his life. Houston police believe the driver …

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