Thousands of children are set to lose legal representation as a $200 million federal contract with the Acacia Center for Justice expires. The nonprofit oversees legal services for unaccompanied migrant children and estimates the funding loss will affect more than 24,000 children nationwide. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
A Houston-based boutique law firm is poised to receive a $150 million contract from the Trump administration to represent thousands of unaccompanied migrant children in immigration court—a major shift from the large national nonprofit that previously handled the work.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced its intent to award Burke Law Group PLLC in a notice filing posted in the Federal Register Tuesday afternoon. If finalized, the contract period would begin August 15 and conclude in August 2027.
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The announcement marks a dramatic departure from the previous provider, a national nonprofit with hundreds of staff members and a network of legal organizations that served more than 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children nationwide. The work is now slated to move to a firm with 26 listed representatives, raising concerns about how the existing caseload will be transferred and managed.
What we know about Burke Law Group
Burke Law Group is a Houston-based boutique law firm founded, in part, by attorney Marcella Burke, a former Trump administration official and energy lawyer.
During President Trump’s first administration, Burke served in senior leadership roles at the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior.
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On its website, the firm describes itself as a full-service commercial litigation practice, specializing in “elite legal counsel for high-stakes matters.”
Among Burke Law Group’s recent high-profile cases was its representation of a Texas surgeon who allegedly leaked information about Texas Children’s Hospital’s treatment of minors receiving gender-affirming care.
Marcella Burke, managing partner and founder of Burke Law Group
BurkeLawGroup
The case led to an investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that later ended in a $10 million settlement between the hospital and the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement also came with an agreement requiring Texas Children’s to establish the nation’s first-ever clinic for patients seeking to de-transition after receiving gender-affirming care.
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Other areas of practice listed on the firm’s website include commercial transactions and mergers, real estate and finance, employment law, white-collar defense, bankruptcy, environmental and energy law, government affairs and crisis management.
Archived versions of the firm’s website indicate immigration and asylum law were added as practice areas in recent years. However, Politico reported that none of the lawyers on staff list immigration law as an area of expertise.
Chron has reached out to Burke Law Group for a comment and is awaiting a response.
New contract leaves uncertainty over representation for migrant children
Under the proposed contract, Burke Law Group would provide services including meeting and explaining the immigration process to children who are in government custody, and representing them as clients in immigration court and in front of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
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“The proposed award is to provide legal orientation, legal consultation, and attorney-of-record representation services for eligible unaccompanied alien children,” the filing states.
The contract would replace an agreement previously held by Acacia Center for Justice, a $350 million national nonprofit that coordinated legal services through a network of providers across the country.
Notice of Intent document filed on Aug. 4 outlines the provisions of services for Burke Law Group.
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According to its mission statement, “Acacia oversees the provision of robust legal services, including representation and orientation services for tens of thousands of people in immigration proceedings.”
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The center reportedly served a caseload of about 24,000 to 26,000 unaccompanied migrant children nationwide.
Their contract, however, lapsed after the nonprofit claimed that the federal government had withheld over $65 million in overdue fees in an attempt to force the turnover of confidential information about the migrant children they represent.
“The truth is, the government wants confidential client information about children to easily deport them,” Acacia Justice Group said in a recent statement. “Our network of nearly 100 legal service providers refuse to violate our legal ethics and our moral values.”
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In response to the news of the contract, the nonprofit tells Chron, “we adamantly believe children must continue to be represented by independent attorneys who specialize in immigration law and, equally importantly, know how to work with children.” A full version of their statement can be found here.
“This won’t go well. You need the major operation to manage the required subcontracts for firms to represent minors and handle the challenges of immigration law,” wrote Immigration Attorney Nicholas Perry in a social post responding to the news.
Advocates warn of potential disruption
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The proposed contract change has sparked concern among immigration advocates and attorneys who question whether a smaller firm can manage the scale of the existing workload.
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“The government has no plan in place for unaccompanied children. As early as this week, kids could be expected to show up and face an immigration judge alone. KIDS,” the Acacia Justice Group wrote in a social media post.
Burke Law Group’s contract is scheduled to begin Aug. 15. It remains unclear how existing cases are being handled or whether children currently represented through Acacia’s network will experience any interruption in legal services.