The government says it will reunite up to 200 migrant children a day with their parents



[ad_1]

Federal authorities said Friday that they plan to return up to 200 children a day to their migrant parents to comply with a federal court ruling made following the crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration at the US-Mexico border. Judge Dana M. Sabraw praised the government's "substantial" efforts to reunite more than half of the 103 youngest children abducted from their parents by Tuesday at the San Diego District Court. He also ordered the government to carry out an orderly process for the entire group after the first reports that a parent of young children was stuck in a bus station and that others were gathered without notice, some late at night.

"So much of this is really just common sense and common courtesy," said Sabraw. during a 90-minute hearing Friday in the class action brought on behalf of migrant parents by the American Civil Liberties Union. "There should not be something mysterious about it, it should be transparent and easy to do."

Shortly after the hearing, the government laid out the outline of its reunification plan in court, indicating that he intended to identify six to eight locations to treat the largest group of 2,551 older children, a base continuing from Friday. , the government has separated more than 2,650 children and their parents from Trump's "zero tolerance" policy, which the administration completed last month, or before that policy.

Authorities also reported Friday evening that not all families will be reunited, which also occurred with the smaller group of one hundred children under 5 years old.Some parents have not found the custody of their children because the parents had a casi Judicial, were expelled before meetings could be held and for other reasons.

Upon filing, the authorities warned the judge that the risks to the safety of children, including the possibility that children end up with adults who are not their biological parents.

Sabraw had previously ordered the government to give up all adults' DNA testing and skip the checks The lawyers protested that such tests were causing delays and had only occurred once the officials doubted whether the adult concerned was the parent or whether the officials had concerns. about security.

But Chris Meekins, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Undersecretary for Preparedness and Response, the Unit According to a statement released Friday, the "Faster Meetings" could result in children in "environments potentially abusive ".

On Friday, the judge also ordered the government to provide health and human services. ACLU with more information about parents and separated children and at least 12 hours before reunification so that lawyers can book hotel rooms or find other places for newly reunited families.

Lee Gelernt, the ACLU's attorney Officials from the Department of Justice said that they have assembled more than half of the youngest children, and have said that 45 of the between them could not be returned for security reasons. reasons or because their parents had been deported or were under criminal detention.

On Friday, Sabraw also reported that he was inclined to ask the US government of As requested by the ACLU, the travel expenses of parents who were trying to reach their children, although the problem is not not resolved.

Justice Minister Sarah Fabian told the judge that "

To reduce costs," she added, "the government has brought parents closer to immigration detention centers." of their children. The judge said that he would decide the issue Monday, when another hearing is scheduled in the case.

Fabian said the next wave of meetings is likely to take place in fewer places because the kids involved are older, and the Texas attorneys are expecting a lot. occur in this state, where thousands of migrant families were initially apprehended.

Trump ended family separations before the order of the judge last month. They ignited international condemnation and concern for the physical and emotional well-being of separated families. A Honduran man was strangled after the officials took his son, and Republicans and Democrats criticized the policy.

Since reunifications began, most parents of younger children have been released with ankle monitoring devices.

The Trump administration has demanded that migrant families be detained together, perhaps in military facilities, until they succeed in their claims for damages. asylum or be expelled.

This is a public support for the detention of families, even among Americans who oppose family separations. A Washington Post-Schar School poll released last week found that 7 out of 10 Americans opposed separating children from parents who crossed the border illegally, but 58% said they preferred that families are arrested until their immigration cases are resolved. Together, it establishes the possibility of future separations, as a federal consent decree states that the government can not detain children in such facilities for more than 20 days. Parents should choose between giving up the rights of their children and staying in detention with them or allowing their children to be released.

Colby Itkowitz and Scott Clement contributed to this report.

[ad_2]
Source link