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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 4 February 2025
Justice Department restores funding for programs that provide

guidance in immigration courts

By KATE BRUMBACK started the effort in 2013
Associated Press with private funding and
Two days after nonprofit expanded it three years
groups sued the federal later with federal funds.
government over a stop- After the stop-work order,
work order targeting pro- the organization was pro-
grams that provide infor- viding scaled-down ser-
mation and guidance to vices, but they were un-
people facing deportation, sure how long they would
the U.S. Justice Depart- be able to continue that
ment reversed course and with the gap left by federal
ordered that funding to the funding cuts, spokesperson
programs be restored. Tara Tidwell Cullen said last
The four federally funded week.
programs educate people Several organizations had
in immigration courts and been told that posters in-
detention centers about forming people of their
their rights and the com- services and information
plicated legal process. about legal help hotlines
The Justice Department in- have been removed from
structed the nonprofits on detention centers.
Jan. 22 “to stop work imme- Congress allocates $29
diately” on the programs, million a year for the four
citing an executive order programs the Legal Ori-
targeting illegal immigra- After waiting in a cue, people are led into a downtown Chicago building where an immigration entation Program, the Im-
tion that President Donald court presides Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Chicago. Associated Press migration Court Helpdesk,
Trump signed the day of his the Family Group Legal Ori-
second inauguration. to navigate the system on went to Detroit immigra- the stop-work order. They entation and the Counsel
A coalition of nonprofit their own, had worried that tion court to post a notice had spoken to about two for Children Initiative fund-
groups filed a federal law- due process rights would saying the help desk the dozen people when deten- ing that’s spread among
suit Friday challenging the be violated and the back- organization ran there was tion center staff escorted various groups across the
stop-work order and seek- logged immigration courts not available. That meant them out, telling them they country providing the ser-
ing to immediately restore would be further bogged turning away people in could no longer provide vices, Lukens said, adding
access to the programs. down. the waiting room the help those services, Amica ex- that the programs have
The Justice Department re- The effects of the stop-work desk would have otherwise ecutive director Michael broad bipartisan support.
scinded its stop-work order order were already being been able to help. Lukens said. The amount is the same
for all four programs Sun- felt in the just over a week Despite the loss of federal Lawyers running a help regardless of the number
day afternoon. since it had entered into ef- funding, staff from the Am- desk inside Chicago’s busy of people they’re helping,
The nonprofit organizations, fect. ica Center for Immigrant immigration court provided and the organizations of-
which had expressed con- Ruby Robinson, managing Rights went to a Virginia services to more than 2,000 ten do additional fundrais-
cern that the absence of attorney at the Michigan detention center to pro- people in 2024. The Nation- ing to cover their costs, he
the programs left people Immigrant Rights Center, vide services the day after al Immigrant Justice Center said.q

Marchers protesting planned deportations block major freeway in

Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Thousands of people protesting mass deportations planned by
President Donald Trump marched in Southern California on Sunday, including in down-
town Los Angeles where demonstrators blocked a major freeway for several hours.
Protesters gathered in the morning on LA’s historic Olvera Street, which dates to Spanish
and Mexican rule, before marching to City Hall. They called for immigration reform and
carried banners with slogans like “Nobody is illegal.”
By the afternoon, marchers had blocked all lanes of U.S. 101, causing traffic to back up
in both directions and on surface streets. The demonstrators sat down in lanes, while a
cordon of California Highway Patrol officers stood by. It took more than five hours for the
freeway to fully reopen, CHP Lt. Matt Gutierrez said Sunday evening.
The CHP and the Los Angeles Police Department said there were no reports of arrests.
To the east, hundreds of people protested in the city of Riverside. Passing motorists
honked and yelled out in support of demonstrators waving flags at an intersection, the
Southern California News Group reported.
And in San Diego, hundreds rallied near the city’s convention center on Sunday.
In Texas, demonstrators gathered in downtown Dallas on Sunday in a pair of protests
against recent arrests by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Dallas police
told The Associated Press that approximately 1,600 people gathered between the two
rallies. Demonstrators shut down the 101 freeway during a protest calling
Marchers carried Mexican and American flags and speakers expressed outrage about for immigration reform Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.
the rhetoric from Trump and his administration’s moves to increase deportations. Associated Press
Signs held by the protesters included one that read “Immigrants Make America Great.”q