Trump eliminates substantial aid for immigrants with mental health issues or cognitive impairments
Cracking the System: Trump Admin Ditches Legal Aid for Mentally Incompetent Immigrants
In a shocking turn of events, the Trump administration has scrapped a vital program that offers legal aid to immigrants with mental disabilities, as revealed in a recent lawsuit filled by immigration legal groups.
On Monday, these groups, including the National Immigrant Justice Center, filed a lawsuit against the federal government in District of Columbia federal district court, claiming that approximately 200 immigrants, already under the care of the National Qualified Representative Program, would be left in limbo without this crucial support.
Mental health issues, cognitive disabilities, traumatic brain injuries – the most vulnerable immigrants face peril due to this abrupt termination. However, the program lives on in three states – Arizona, California, and Washington – where it was initially established following a legal settlement.
"Mentally ill immigrants in many countries worldwide face torture and even death," remarks David Faherty, supervising attorney for adult detention at the National Immigrant Justice Center. He goes on to explain that deportation under such circumstances could subject them to these grave conditions.
Neither the White House nor the Justice Department has offered a comment so far. The Department of Homeland Security, on the other hand, has delegated the responsibility of commenting to the Justice Department.
A strategic move by the Trump administration, this latest action follows a series of attempts to speed up deportations while dismantling programs that support immigrants. The administration has also been attempting to cut funding for immigration lawyers who assist unaccompanied children, end orientation programs for detainees on their rights, and replace legal representation for separated children and parents with in-house administration attorneys.
Antagonizing immigration lawyers further, Trump issued a memo in March, instructing the attorney general to take action against them in specific circumstances. Following an April 25 contract termination with the Acacia Center for Justice, theAlexander Center for Migrant and Immigrant Rights – one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit – claims the impact was immediate.
"A man held in ICE custody, known to have mental issues, had lost his attorney because of this termination on the very same day," Faherty reports. Usually, once an attorney is mandated, the National Immigrant Justice Center would take over the case. However, since the termination, Faherty has not received any such updates.
Besides providing legal representation, the legal groups offer assistance with forensic, medical, and psychological evaluations, treatment access, and access to lost family members. Clients of these programs span the spectrum of mental health circumstances, from the homeless to those with recently surfaced mental illnesses or traumatic brain injuries, as well as elder immigrants struggling with dementia.
Advocacy groups allege that the Trump administration's decision to terminate this program is not only cruel but also discriminatory against people with disabilities[1][2]. California attorney Veronica Barba, who handles cases covered by the program, compares the pre- and post-settlement periods, referring to the difference as night and day. "These people were delayed for years and years in the courts and detention centres," she laments, adding, "It could be any one of us that falls ill one day."
Legal groups involved in the lawsuit include American Gateways, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, Estrella del Paso, Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project, and many others[4].
[1] https://www.splcenter.org/immigration/localhelp/finding-a-lawyer[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/us/politics/trump-immigration-lawyers-legal-aid.html[3] https://www.americanbar.org/groups/immigration/immigration-legal-resource-center-ilrc/resources/immigration-articles/2025/05/01_mentally_ill_immigrants_in_danger/[4] https://www.immigrationvoice.org/legal-resources/find-immigration-attorney/[5] https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-due-process/ensure-fair-day-court-federal-immigration-system
- The Trump administration's action ditches a program offering legal aid to mentally disabled immigrants, a move criticized as cruel and discriminatory.
- Mental health, cognitive disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries pose a risk to vulnerable immigrants due to the program's termination.
- The National Qualified Representative Program survives in three states - Arizona, California, and Washington - where it was initially established.
- David Faherty, supervising attorney for adult detention at the National Immigrant Justice Center, expresses concern over potential torture and death for mentally ill immigrants facing deportation.
- Neither the White House nor the Justice Department has provided comment regarding the program's termination.
- The Department of Homeland Security has passed the responsibility for commenting to the Justice Department.
- The Trump administration's efforts include speeding up deportations, cutting funding for immigration lawyers, and ending orientation programs for detainees.
- Trump's March memo instructs the attorney general to take action against immigration lawyers in specific circumstances.
- The termination of a contract with the Acacia Center for Justice has resulted in immediate consequences for a mentally ill immigrant detained by ICE.
- Legal groups providing assistance with medical, psychological, and forensic evaluations, and access to lost family members, have been adversely affected by the program's termination.
- Clients of these programs span a wide range of mental health circumstances, from the homeless to those with recently surfaced mental illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, and elderly immigrants dealing with dementia.
- California attorney Veronica Barba compares the pre- and post-settlement periods, describing the difference as night and day.
- Legal groups involved in the lawsuit include American Gateways, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, Estrella del Paso, Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project, and many others.
- Furthermore, policy and legislation changes jeopardize the well-being of immigrants facing a range of medical conditions, including cancer, respiratory conditions, digestive health issues, eye health, hearing problems, and skin conditions.
- Workplace wellness, fitness, and exercise, mental health, sexual health, and health and wellness therapies and treatments can struggle to achieve impact in the face of these sweeping changes.
- Meanwhile, the aging process, parenting, cardiovascular health, cbd, neurological disorders, skin conditions, migration, war, and conflicts, policy and legislation, car accidents, politics, general news, and crime and justice can be affected as well.
- Car accidents and fires may require medical treatment for chronic diseases, chronic conditions, and other health concerns, making access to care increasingly important.
- In the midst of these issues, it is crucial to ensure the health and well-being of all, regardless of immigration status, in a compassionate and just manner.
