By Paul Joseph
The Donald Trump administration has abruptly terminated an $11 million federal contract with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Florida, which provides shelter and care for unaccompanied migrant children.
The move ends a partnership that has lasted more than six decades, dating back to the arrival of Cuban exiles in South Florida.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church. Earlier this week, President Trump described Pope Leo XIV as “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy,” prompting a firm response from the pontiff, who stated he had no fear of the administration.
According to the Miami Herald, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), notified the charity in late March that the contract would be terminated.
The program, which functions like a federally funded foster care system for children entering the U.S. without parents or guardians, is expected to shut down within three months.
Archbishop of Miami, Most Rev. Thomas Wenski, called the decision “abrupt” and criticized the government for ending a partnership with a program renowned for its excellence.
“The Archdiocese of Miami’s services for unaccompanied minors have been recognized nationally and have served as a model for other agencies. Our track record in serving this vulnerable population is unmatched,” Wenski said.
The program operates an 81-bed children’s village in Miami-Dade County, providing foster homes, family reunification services, and trauma support.
It traces its roots to the 1960s, including Operation Pedro Pan, which helped relocate approximately 14,000 Cuban children fleeing the Castro regime.
HHS press secretary Emily G. Hillard stated that the daily population of unaccompanied children in federal care has dropped sharply under the Trump administration, from a peak of 22,000 during the Biden years to about 1,900.
She explained that ORR is closing and consolidating unused facilities as part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal entry and the smuggling of unaccompanied children, without specifically naming Catholic Charities.
Despite acknowledging the decline in numbers, Wenski criticized the closure, calling it “baffling that the U.S. government would shut down a program of such unparalleled competence.”
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