Story perspectives

U.S. Awards $394M Contracts for Unaccompanied Children Representation

8/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. awarded contracts totaling $394,034,658—$244,034,658 to Our Rescue and $150 million to Burke Law Group—to represent unaccompanied immigrant children.
Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín ordered the administration on August 6 to pay $65 million owed to former nonprofit providers.
Tim Ballard resigned in 2023 amid lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct, trafficking and forced labor, which he denies.
Advocacy groups warned the contracts may provide only minimal representation, jeopardizing due-process rights for roughly 26,000 children.

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Story summary

The U.S. awarded contracts totaling $394,034,658—$244,034,658 to Our Rescue and $150 million to Burke Law Group—to represent unaccompanied immigrant children.
Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín ordered the administration on August 6 to pay $65 million owed to former nonprofit providers.
Tim Ballard resigned in 2023 amid lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct, trafficking and forced labor, which he denies.
Advocacy groups warned the contracts may provide only minimal representation, jeopardizing due-process rights for roughly 26,000 children.