Trump terminates $11 million funding of Catholic Charities

The development ended a long-running arrangement to shelter unaccompanied migrant children, giving the agency just three months to relocate those in its care.

The decision was communicated in late March by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, according to a report by the Miami Herald on April 15.

The exact number of children affected has not been disclosed.

The move is part of a broader immigration crackdown that has also seen the administration cut ties with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, ending a decades-long collaboration on refugee resettlement.

For years, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, under the US Department of Health and Human Services, had relied on Catholic Charities to house migrant children arriving in the U.S. without parents or guardians—effectively operating a federally funded foster care system alongside state-run services.

In response, Thomas G. Wenski criticized the decision, describing it as an abrupt end to more than 60 years of partnership.

He said the Miami programme had been widely recognised for its quality and served as a national model.

“Our track record in serving this vulnerable population is unmatched,” Wenski said, warning that the funding cut would force the programme to shut down within three months.

A spokesperson for HHS defended the move, saying the government is consolidating underused facilities as part of efforts to curb illegal entry and human trafficking involving minors. The agency also noted that the number of unaccompanied children in care has dropped significantly—from about 22,000 under Joe Biden to roughly 1,900 under the current administration.

Wenski acknowledged the decline in numbers but questioned the decision to dismantle a system he said would be difficult to replicate at the same standard, particularly given the specialised care required for children who often arrive traumatised.

He also highlighted the historical role of Catholic Charities in federal efforts, pointing to Operation Pedro Pan in the early 1960s, when thousands of Cuban children were sheltered in partnership with the U.S. government.

According to Wenski, that programme helped shape the lives of many who went on to become professionals, clergy and public officials—including former U.S. Senator Mel Martinez.