The Galveston-Houston Immigration Representation Project (GHIRP) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, its Office of Refugee Resettlement, and the U.S. Department of the Interior after being notified that their federal contract funding would not be renewed. The lawsuit argues that the funding cuts jeopardize legal representation for unaccompanied children and coincide with an increased governmental focus on deporting immigrant children.

On February 25, 2025, the Galveston-Houston Immigration Representation Project (GHIRP) faced a temporary stop work order from the federal government linked to an ICE directive targeting unaccompanied migrant children. The order, which would have forced children to represent themselves in court, was rescinded a few days later. GHIRP reaffirmed its commitment to providing legal aid, know-your-rights orientations, and screenings to safeguard due process rights for vulnerable migrant children.

Despite a federal stop-work order cutting funding for legal services for migrant children, GHIRP reaffirmed its commitment by continuing legal representation, ensuring vulnerable immigrant youth still received essential advocacy in immigration court.

The Galveston-Houston Immigration Representation Project announced that its Immigrant Children and Youth Program lost funding under a contract with the Acacia Center for Justice following a federal order. This loss of funding could critically undermine services provided to unaccompanied immigrant children, highlighting the impact of authoritarian policy measures on organizations protecting marginalized communities.