FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2025
Press Contact: Renee Garcia, rgarcia@immdef.org, media@immdef.org, 213-634-2186
ImmDef Responds to Rescission of Stop-Work Order,
Renews Call for Long-Term Commitment to Legal Access for Unaccompanied Children
Los Angeles, CA-- On February 21, 2025, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) received news that the stop-work order for all activities related to our legal defense programs for unaccompanied children has been lifted just three days after it was initially announced. ImmDef is the largest legal service provider for unaccompanied children in Southern California and provides legal representation to thousands of children annually.
ImmDef President and CEO, Lindsay Toczylowski, released the following statement in response to the rescission of the stop-work order:
“We welcome the news that the government has lifted the stop-work order, resuming funding for our services for thousands of vulnerable children. In the past 48 hours, people appalled by the cruelty shown to migrant children sent over fifteen-thousand letters to Congress. They demanded that legal access for unaccompanied children be restored, and that this administration protect children in their care. We are deeply grateful for their support. Now, children across the nation won’t have to face the immediate threat of going without legal representation as they navigate our labyrinthine immigration court system.
This stop work order caused chaos for legal service providers and the children we serve across the entire United States. In some cases, staff were furloughed and many feared they would be laid off. Thousands of lawyers and advocates across the country spent three sleepless nights worrying about how they could avoid abandoning their child clients. This rollercoaster of chaos is not how a stable government functions.
While we are momentarily relieved, we know the fight to protect due process for children is far from over. We continue to demand that the Trump administration stop playing games with children’s rights and their safety. We will continue to hold them to account because our clients, and so many thousands of children across the nation, are depending on good people to stand up and say enough is enough."
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The Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) is a next-generation social justice law firm that defends immigrant communities against injustices in the immigration system. Our programs are a first step towards realizing the long-term goal of providing universal representation to all immigrants facing deportation. ImmDef is the largest non‐profit, pro bono provider of deportation defense in California, with offices in Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Ana, and San Diego.