HOUSTON, Texas — A small law firm with ties to the Trump administration is poised to receive up to $150 million to provide legal services for thousands of unaccompanied migrant children in federal custody.
The proposed one-year agreement with Burke Law Group would begin Aug. 15 and cover legal orientation, consultations and direct representation while children remain in Office of Refugee Resettlement care. The firm would provide only limited referrals and continuity planning after children leave federal custody.
Burke lists 26 employees across eight offices, but its website does not identify immigration law as a practice area. Its attorneys primarily advertise experience in administrative law, commercial litigation, securities disputes and white-collar defense. Founder Marcella Burke previously served as an appointee at the Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department during President Donald Trump’s first administration.
The award follows the expiration of a nationwide contract involving nearly 100 nonprofit legal providers. Those organizations said the government had withheld payments for months and sought confidential information about young clients, forcing some programs to lay off employees or suspend services.
Advocates question whether one relatively small firm can replace an established national network serving more than 20,000 children. The administration says the agreement will restore legal assistance, but the firm’s capacity and immigration experience are likely to face continued scrutiny.
Sources:
- ABC News – MBFC Rating
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