Archdiocese of Miami Pleads with Trump Administration to Restore $11 Million Charity Contract

The funding cut threatens a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children in South Florida.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:11am

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A dimly lit office space with a lone desk and chair, bathed in warm, golden light from a single window, creating a sense of quiet contemplation about the uncertain future facing vulnerable youth.The Archdiocese's plea to restore funding for a shelter serving unaccompanied migrant children reflects the somber, uncertain future facing vulnerable youth.Today in Miami

The Archdiocese of Miami is making a desperate plea to the federal government, asking it to reconsider the cancellation of an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities that funds a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children in South Florida. The Archdiocese insists the decision is not related to a recent exchange between Pope Leo and President Trump over a now-deleted AI-generated photo.

Why it matters

The funding cut threatens the operation of the Bryan O. Walsh Children's Village, a shelter that can house up to 81 unaccompanied migrant children. With potential future waves of migration from nearby Cuba and Haiti, the loss of this funding could leave vulnerable children without a critical support system.

The details

The funding, which supports Catholic Charities' Bryan O. Walsh Children's Village, was cut by the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a longtime partner of the organization. The Archdiocese says they are still waiting for an explanation for why the funding was cut.

  • The funding cut was announced in April 2026.

The players

Archdiocese of Miami

The Catholic diocese serving the Miami metropolitan area, which is pleading with the federal government to restore the $11 million contract with Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities

A charitable organization affiliated with the Catholic Church that operates the Bryan O. Walsh Children's Village shelter for unaccompanied migrant children in South Florida.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami, who criticized the federal government's decision to cut the funding for the shelter.

Peter Routsis-Arroyo

The CEO of Miami Catholic Charities, who stated that the ultimate victims of the funding cut are the children in the shelter's care.

President Trump

The former U.S. President whose administration made the decision to cut the $11 million contract with Catholic Charities.

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What they’re saying

“You don't end a program, especially a program that has the success record that Catholic Charities does, because you'll be hard-pressed to reinstitute it when another wave of unaccompanied minors comes about.”

— Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami

“The Catholic Church certainly will go on. Who loses? The children lose. The kids lose. The government loses.”

— Peter Routsis-Arroyo, CEO of Miami Catholic Charities

What’s next

The Archdiocese confirmed it will not file an appeal or a lawsuit over the decision, but is simply asking the government to reconsider the funding cut.

The takeaway

This funding cut threatens a critical shelter for unaccompanied migrant children in South Florida, raising concerns about the impact on vulnerable children and the government's commitment to supporting charitable organizations that serve this population.