Media and Press

Acacia Center for Justice Welcomes Federal Court Injunction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2025 

CONTACT: press@acaciajustice.org 

Acacia Center for Justice Welcomes Federal Court Injunction

SAN FRANCISCO Yesterday evening, a federal Court in the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction in Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, enjoining the government from withdrawing services or funds for direct legal representation services to unaccompanied children while the case is pending.

Shaina Aber, Executive Director of the Acacia Center for Justice, responded, “The Acacia Center for Justice welcomes the news of the court’s preliminary injunction forestalling the administration’s move to arbitrarily deny children congressionally mandated legal services. This injunction will temporarily allow children’s attorneys to resume their support of vulnerable unaccompanied children after over a month of disruption. In the absence of these services, we have already witnessed dozens of children forced to go to court alone while in government custody. Forcing children as young as four years old to appear unrepresented in court. It doesn’t take an attorney to tell you this  is not what justice looks like.”

“The Acacia Center for Justice is grateful to our partners in the legal services community who provide children with an understanding of their options and defend children from harm, exploitation, and abuse as they navigate immigration proceedings.  While this relief is temporary and we are clear-eyed that this won’t be the last  attack on children’s due process protections, today children will have attorneys appearing by their side as they go to immigration court.”

 

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About Acacia Center for Justice

Acacia Center for Justice expands meaningful access to justice and freedom for immigrants at risk of detention or deportation in partnership with an accountable, independent national network of immigrant legal service providers and community partners. Acacia Center for Justice’s reach and impact are unparalleled. The national nonprofit currently operates eight federally funded programs and one state funded program through a network of 130+ legal service providers located in over 80 offices across the country.