Small Texas law firm set to receive $150M contract to represent unaccompanied migrant children

Key Points:

• The Trump administration plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a small Texas law firm, to provide legal representation for thousands of unaccompanied migrant children during immigration proceedings.
• The contract aims to offer legal orientation, consultation, and attorney-of-record services for eligible children while they remain in government custody, as announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Previous legal service providers have accused the administration of withholding $65 million in overdue fees to pressure them into sharing confidential information about the migrant children they represent.
• Burke Law Group, headquartered in Houston with 26 employees, recently added immigration law to its practice areas; its founders include former Trump appointees to federal agencies.
• The contract shift follows disputes with the Acacia Center for Justice, which previously held the prime contract but refused HHS demands for confidential client data and billing transparency, amid concerns over immigration enforcement tactics targeting unaccompanied children.