Trump Administration Ends $11M Contract With Miami Catholic Charities for Migrant Children

The decision will force the closure of the charity's long-running shelter program within three months.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:09am

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A dimly lit, nostalgic painting of an empty dormitory room with simple wooden beds and a window casting warm, diagonal light across the space, conveying a sense of solitude and uncertainty.The sudden end to a long-standing federal contract with a Catholic charity raises concerns about the future of specialized care for unaccompanied migrant children.Cutler Bay Today

The Trump administration has cancelled an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, ending the charity's more than 60-year-old program providing housing, supervision, and essential support services for unaccompanied migrant children. Officials cited a significant reduction in the number of unaccompanied minors in federal custody, but advocates warn the move could leave gaps in the system for the remaining children who require specialized care.

Why it matters

The decision marks a notable change in how the federal government supports care for migrant children, even as border arrivals continue at reduced levels. Catholic Charities' program has served as a model for other agencies and provided a broader network of foster placements and trauma services, which advocates say are still needed despite the drop in crossings.

The details

The contract cancellation, notified to the charity in late March, will force the closure of Catholic Charities' services within three months. The main facility is the Msgr Bryan O Walsh Children's Village in Cutler Bay, which includes an 81-bed shelter along with family reunification and trauma services. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services said the daily population of unaccompanied migrant children had fallen to about 1,900, compared with a peak of roughly 22,000 under the Biden administration.

  • The partnership between Catholic Charities and the federal government stretches back to the 1960s and the first arrivals of Cuban exiles.
  • In late March 2026, the Trump administration notified Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami that it was cancelling the $11 million contract.
  • Catholic Charities will be forced to shut down its migrant children's services within three months of the contract cancellation.

The players

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami

A non-profit organization that has provided housing, supervision, and essential support services for unaccompanied migrant children under a federal contract for more than 60 years.

Thomas Wenski

The Archbishop of Miami, who stated that the U.S. government had 'abruptly decided to end more than 60 years of relationship with Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Miami'.

Department of Health and Human Services

The federal agency that administered the contract with Catholic Charities through the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President whose administration cancelled the $11 million contract with Catholic Charities.

Pope Leo XIV

The Pope who has spoken out on migration and other international issues, leading to public disagreements with President Trump.

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What they’re saying

“The US government had 'abruptly decided to end more than 60 years of relationship with Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Miami'.”

— Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami

“The programme 'will be forced to shut down within three months' and noted that the archdiocese's services had been recognised for their excellence and served as a model for other agencies.”

— Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami

What’s next

No replacement arrangements have been announced by federal officials as of Thursday, leaving uncertainty about the future of specialized care for unaccompanied migrant children in the region.

The takeaway

The sudden end to the long-running contract with Catholic Charities raises concerns about potential gaps in the system for supporting unaccompanied migrant children, even as border crossings have declined. The decision reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church over immigration policy.