Estrella del Paso accuses the Trump administration of refusing to pay reimbursements; litigation is ongoing
Heriberto Perez Lara
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Estrella del Paso, a local immigration legal clinic that operates as a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, is accusing the federal government, specifically the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, of not paying them around $765,000 owed in reimbursements for the past six months.
These reimbursements come under the Unaccompanied Children program, in which Estrella del Paso has hundreds of pending cases.
Melissa M. Lopez, the executive director of EDP, says it is a frustrating situation because they need to look for other means to provide those legal services to the migrant children they are currently representing.
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar posted a response on social media Tuesday to the Trump administration’s alleged refusal to pay more than $765,000 owed to Estrella del Paso.
Congresswoman Escobar issued the following statement on Instagram:
“Estrella del Paso has been a lifeline for immigrant families in our community, providing the legal support that makes our justice system fairer and more accessible. The Trump Administration’s decision to withhold funding for unaccompanied minors has placed that mission in jeopardy, created unnecessary uncertainty for the people who depend on it, and deliberately attacked due process. Every day these funds remain frozen puts essential legal services for children and the future of Estrella del Paso at greater risk – reimbursements should be released now.”
ABC-7 reached out to Estrella del Paso and to the White House for comment.
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