Law firm with ties to Trump administration declines offer to represent migrant children

The administration awarded another contract worth up to $244 million to Our Rescue, an anti-child-trafficking made famous by the 2023 movie “Sound of Freedom.”

McALLEN, Texas — A small law firm with ties to the Trump administration declined a $150 million contract to represent migrant children who traveled alone to the U.S., authorities said Wednesday, while another group whose former chief executive was dogged by allegations of misconduct was awarded work worth up to $244 million to advocate for them.

The rapid-fire developments came amid long-term questions about who will represent children in court amid President Donald Trump’s push for mass deportations.

The administration last week announced plans to award the contract to the Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm with little experience in immigration. The contract offer came after the administration let a key contract expire with nearly 100 providers through Acacia Center for Justice.

Unaccompanied migrant children in federal custody are being temporarily represented by another group, but it is unclear how things will shake out after its contract expires in December. A statement from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, which oversees the contracts, offered no insight into why Burke declined the offer.

“Burke Law Group has declined to apply and has not been awarded any grant,” the agency, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, said in an emailed statement in response to a query about the contract.