Children barely old enough to speak could be left to face US immigration court without a lawyer after Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, legislation that critics say weakens protections for unaccompanied migrant children while an ongoing legal battle continues to threaten funding for the attorneys who represent them.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) passed the House by 218-214 and the Senate by 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. It was signed into law on 4 July 2025.