The Legal Orientation Program for Custodians of Unaccompanied Children was initiated by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in 2010 to fulfill the federal government’s statutory obligations under the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA). Section 235(c)(4) of the TVPRA mandates that custodians of unaccompanied children be informed of their responsibilities, including to a) ensure the child’s appearance at immigration proceedings and b) protect the child from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking. As such, each program participant received information on the consequences of the child not appearing in court, among other valuable information. The Acacia Center for Justice began administering the government-funded LOPC in 2022, and until the recent termination of the program, there were fourteen non-profit organizations, including two call centers, that served unaccompanied children and their sponsors across the country. 

Under Acacia, the LOPC fulfilled the TVPRA’s mandate by providing legal orientation services, such as group orientations, individual orientations, pro se workshops, and pro bono referrals and placements to the adult caregivers of unaccompanied children in removal proceedings. Unaccompanied children were also eligible for legal screenings which were conducted to identify potential forms of legal relief, assess risk factors such as mistreatment or trafficking, and determine the need for further legal services or referrals. All services under the LOPC were designed to be culturally competent, trauma-informed, and accessible to a wide range of custodians, including those with limited English proficiency or formal education. 

The federal government abruptly terminated the LOPC after 15 years of bipartisan support. Effective 12:01 AM on April 16, 2025, the LOPC — alongside several other orientation programs, including the Legal Orientation Program (LOP), Immigration Court Helpdesk (ICH), Family Group Legal Orientation Program (FGLOP), and Counsel for Children Initiative (CCI).  

Acacia is concerned that the absence of LOPC services and/or the federalization of the program will result in custodians being ill-equipped to support unaccompanied children in their removal proceedings and protect them from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking. If custodians are not apprised of the rights and obligations of the minors in their care, it is likely that critical responsibilities will be overlooked, resulting in missed court appearances, delayed access to legal relief, or even exposure to harm, through no fault of the minor.