The Biden administration’s plan to enlist Pentagon lawyers to defend Trump’s policy on unaccompanied minors was abruptly abandoned, an action that has not been publicly disclosed yet.

The reversal comes amid confusion about how the administration intends to protect the rights of unaccompanied minors and whether the legal strategy will meet ethical and constitutional standards.

Trump officials had originally proposed that defense attorneys from the Department of Defense would represent children in legal proceedings, but concerns over potential conflicts and the impact on the children’s welfare led to a swift cancellation.

The decision signals a shift in approach, leaving the legal framework for migrant child rights in a state of uncertainty as the administration reevaluates its stance.