Trump Cancels Catholic Charity Contract for Migrant Children

The move comes amid rising tensions between the administration and American Catholics over the president's criticism of the Vatican.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:19pm

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A solitary migrant child sits alone on a bench in a dimly lit government office, the warm glow of sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of isolation and uncertainty.The cancellation of a federal contract with Catholic Charities leaves hundreds of vulnerable migrant children without a stable home, exposing the human toll of the administration's ongoing feud with the Catholic Church.Today in Miami

The Trump administration has abruptly canceled an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities to shelter and care for migrant children who enter the U.S. alone, ending a long-standing relationship between the Catholic Church and the U.S. government. This development comes amid growing tensions between the administration and American Catholics over President Trump's criticism of the Vatican's first American pope, Leo XIV, who has made opposition to the U.S. war with Iran and concern for migrant welfare a priority.

Why it matters

The cancellation of the Catholic Charities contract could disrupt the care and housing of vulnerable migrant children, potentially causing significant psychological harm as they are moved to new foster homes or shelters. It also threatens to further alienate the Trump administration from the Catholic community, a traditionally Republican-leaning voting bloc that has grown increasingly critical of the president's policies and rhetoric.

The details

The Office of Refugee Resettlement, part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, has paid Catholic Charities in Miami for several years to house immigrant children who enter the U.S. without parents or adult supervision. The non-profit operates a federally funded foster care system for these children, separate from state agencies that handle cases of abused and neglected children. The federal government notified Catholic Charities in late March about the cancellation of this funding.

  • The Trump administration canceled the $11 million contract with Catholic Charities in late March 2026.
  • The contract had been in place for several years prior to the cancellation.

The players

Catholic Charities

A non-profit organization that has operated a federally funded foster care system for immigrant children entering the U.S. without parents or adult supervision.

Pope Leo XIV

The first American pope, who has made opposition to the U.S. war with Iran and concern for migrant welfare a cornerstone of his ministry, leading to rising tensions with the Trump administration.

Office of Refugee Resettlement

A division of the federal Department of Health and Human Services that had been providing funding to Catholic Charities to house immigrant children.

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What they’re saying

“It's incredibly psychologically harmful to be moved, sometimes as stressful as serious illness or a death in the family. For little kids, moving repeatedly creates bonding issues and destroys the sense of both self and community. They don't know who they are and where they will be from day to day.”

— Robert Latham, Associate Director, University of Miami Law School's Children and Youth Law Clinic

What’s next

It's unclear how many migrant children are currently in the care of Catholic Charities in Miami and elsewhere, or where they will be relocated to after the contract cancellation. The move is likely to cause significant disruption and trauma for the vulnerable children.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's abrupt cancellation of the Catholic Charities contract to shelter migrant children is the latest in a series of actions that have strained the president's relationship with the Catholic community. This decision risks further alienating a traditionally Republican-leaning voting bloc and could have severe consequences for the wellbeing of the children affected.