Federal Agents Target Nonprofit Offices Supporting Immigrant Children
Offices of nonprofit organizations in the Washington, D.C. area, which provide legal support to unaccompanied immigrant children, were recently visited by federal agents, a move that some groups are calling an intimidation tactic.
Investigators from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) conducted visits on June 11 at organizations such as Children in Need of Defense (KIND), Amica Immigrant Rights Center, and Ayuda. HHS oversees the care and custody arrangements for unaccompanied minors.
The visiting agents did not possess a search warrant and were subsequently denied access by the nonprofits. Wendy Young, president of KIND, characterized the incident as part of a broader administration effort aimed at undermining legal services for unaccompanied children seeking safety in the United States. She stated the organization will not comply with requests that lack legal justification.
This incident occurred alongside announcements from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin regarding a crackdown on approximately 15,000 “supersponsor” cases. These cases involve unrelated adults sponsoring migrant children who entered the U.S. following the Biden administration’s policies.
In 2025, the Trump administration discontinued a $200 million contract that provided essential legal representation for immigrant children in court, resulting in legal action against the government. Although court orders have restored some funding, many service providers remain unpaid for work already completed, with KIND claiming it is owed $20 million for past services and facing obstacles in receiving overdue payments.
Michael Lukens, executive director of the Amica Immigrant Rights Center, emphasized that the government’s actions against immigrant children persist, especially when federal officials visit nonprofit legal service providers unexpectedly. He described the incident as a blatant abuse of power aimed at intimidating advocates dedicated to defending vulnerable children. He reiterated that all children deserve due process and proper legal representation.
Paula Fitzgerald, executive director of Ayuda, expressed concerns about the chilling effect such actions have on immigrant families seeking legal assistance. She stated that unannounced visits by federal agents could deter these families from exercising their legal rights, fearing potential exposure or privacy violations.
Young emphasized the crucial role legal service providers like KIND play in protecting unaccompanied children within the immigration system, ensuring compliance with immigration laws, and facilitating communication with authorities. Despite the challenges, nonprofit organizations remain steadfast in their commitment to advocacy and support for vulnerable populations.
Though a DHS spokesperson declined to confirm specifics about the visits to the nonprofits, they affirmed the agency’s commitment to locating the estimated 450,000 unaccompanied children who have crossed the border under the Biden administration. However, this figure has been contested by immigration advocates. Reports indicate that substantial failures by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to serve appearance notices have left many children unaccounted for.
