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El Paso's Estrella del Paso Faces Closure Amid Funding Dispute with Trump Administration

El Paso Matters•Monday, July 6, 2026 at 5:35 PM•Robert Moore

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AI Summary

Estrella del Paso, a vital legal aid organization in El Paso serving immigrants for 40 years, is on the brink of closure due to over $765,000 in unpaid reimbursements from the Trump administration. This financial strain, exacerbated by a lack of funds since December 2025, threatens legal assistance for tens of thousands of immigrants, significantly increasing their risk of deportation. A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for July 16 to address potential contempt of court against the Health and Human Services department for violating an injunction that mandates funding for legal services to unaccompanied minors. The organization has launched an emergency fundraising campaign to stay afloat, while community leaders urge residents to support their mission.

Key Details: • Hearing on contempt of court scheduled for July 16, 2025. • Emergency fundraising campaign initiated by Estrella del Paso. • Deadline for HHS to respond to contempt motion is July 10, 2025. • Government contract with legal service providers expires on July 31, 2025.

community immigration court funding legal-aid

People & Organizations

El PasoCaliforniaHealth and Human ServicesCatholic Diocese of El PasoEstrella del PasoMark SeitzMelissa LopezAraceli Martinez-Olguín

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