The judge criticizes the Trump administration in response to the family reunification order



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The federal judge who ordered the speedy reunification of thousands of migrant families has severely reprimanded the Trump administration late Friday after declaring that compliance with the judge's order would increase the risk of harm to the children.

The Department of Services introduced a new, more expedited plan to return nearly 3,000 migrant children to their parents by July 26. But he also stated that this required faster control procedures and would likely place children with abusive parents or adults falsely claiming to be their parents.

In a court record including the new plan, Chris Meekins, badistant undersecretary of state readiness and response, said: "Although I am fully committed to complying with the order of this court, I do not believe that the placement of children in such situations is consistent with HHS's mission or my core values. "

Judge Dana M. Sabraw of the San Diego Federal District Court did not

"Unfortunately, HHS seems to be operating in a vacuum, completely disbadociated from the undisputed circumstances of this case," he said. His position, he added, was inconsistent with the explicit statements of senior government officials – including the president himself – that reunifications are continuing and are proceeding quickly.

Judge Sabraw also stated that the ministry had expedited the court order, and that secure reunifications "can be accomplished in time and in the prescribed manner."

"It is clear from Mr. Meekins' statement that HHS either does not understand the court's orders, or acts in defiance of them," he said.

The government says in its new reunification plan that it will make up to 200 children a day to their families.Parent parents will be sent to one of six to eight institutions and subjected to two basic checks, a for criminal background and another to confirm filiation.Then, the child will be transferred to this facility within 24 to 48 hours

The plan was filed after a hearing in a lawsuit against the government about his practice of family separation, and a chaotic week of last-minute meetings of a small subset of separated children – those under the age of five – with false starts and delays.

Administration is faced with a much more arduous task. According to the latest government estimates, 57 children under 5 were reunited in the first phase, while another 2,551 are still in custody.

Judge Sabraw established Friday a set of interim deadlines – the first phase's first execution. He stated that the government must confirm all parent-child relationships by July 19, one week before the reunification deadline, and give at least 12 hours notice prior to reunification of the parent's place and identities and the child. hoped that the new deadlines would enable them to mobilize in time to provide families with emergency shelter, clothing and food. Many families will be released to states far away from their parents or support networks. Some were released last week without having money or where to go, including the mother of a six – month – old baby who, according to court documents, was left behind by Immigration agents in a bus station until midnight. 19659002] Nevertheless, the judge was satisfied with the progress of the government in all areas.

"The parties are really working on the problems in a very measured and successful way given the enormity of the business," he said. started quietly last fall and accelerated in May with the announcement of the "zero tolerance" policy of the administration. After a resounding public outcry, they abruptly stopped on June 20 with an executive order from Mr. Trump, who reiterated his commitment to strict enforcement of immigration, but traced the line to family separation.

children under 5, but had done for all who were eligible at the end of the week.

To streamline the process, the government said it would use DNA tests sparingly to confirm parentage. This would depend on the documentation and what Sabraw JA has called "common sense" in the vast majority of cases, so that reunifications can be made more quickly.

Questions remain about the future of children whose parents were expelled without them called "one of the troubling realities of this situation." He set a deadline of seven days to return these children to their parents once the government had obtained the necessary documents for them to travel.

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