A federal district judge ordered the Trump administration to restore a program to appoint attorneys for people deemed mentally incompetent in deportation hearings. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled July 21 that the sudden end to the program in April caused irreparable harm. "The action was taken without any record of considering the acute reliance interests and consequences for the administration of justice, the vulnerable population affected, or the ongoing representations that will be disrupted," Ali wrote. USA TODAY previously spotlighted the sudden budget cut that upended the $12 million program.It left 289 detainees with active cases suddenly without their attorneys. The attorneys argued they faced an impossible choice: withdraw from the cases and leave their must vulnerable clients, or keep working for free. Ali wrote that he was ordering the Department of Justice to restore the program, known as providing "qualified representatives" in the short term, but that the department is free to make changes in the future, inhis 27-page ruling. By law, detainees with severe disabilities are still supposed to be given a fair hearing where they can present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. But they were caught up in the administration's zest to ramp up removals under the auspices of saving taxpayers money. Immigration attorneys paid through the program said they were relieved and would continue to represent their clients in court. "Today's decision confirms the common-sense notion that a government agency must have a good reason for the actions it takes, especially those that impact people's fundamental rights," said Evan Benz, senior attorney at Amica Center for Immigrant Rights. "In this case, the government decided to stop providing lawyers to some of the most vulnerable people in our immigration system – those with severe mental and cognitive disabilities who are detained in ICE custody – for no other reason than 'convenience.' As the judge recognized, that is simply not acceptable." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Judge restores program aiding mentally ill detainees
