Hundreds of immigrant children continue to remain in federal detention beyond the legally mandated 20-day limit, with some held for more than five months, according to alarming new court filings. Legal advocates have raised concerns over the federal government's failure to adequately safeguard the welfare of these children, emphasizing troubling accounts of prolonged detention, contaminated food, inadequate medical care, and insufficient legal counsel.
Attorneys representing the detainees submitted reports detailing the government's own revelations regarding the extended custody times. These reports highlighted conditions at various federal facilities, where families reported issues ranging from lack of medical attention to allegations of spoiled food. Additionally, there has been an increased reliance on hotels for temporary detention, raising further questions about the treatment of vulnerable children.
This issue stems from a civil lawsuit initiated in 1985, which ultimately resulted in the establishment of court-ordered standards for the treatment of immigrant children in 1997. These standards included a stipulation limiting the length of custody to 20 days. Recent developments indicate that the Trump administration is seeking to abolish this agreement, heightening concerns among advocates.
A report submitted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on December 1 revealed that around 400 immigrant children were detained for over 20 days during the months of August and September alone. The court was informed that this problem is widespread, affecting multiple regions and facilities. The delays in releasing these children were attributed to transportation issues, medical needs, and extended legal processing times.
However, legal representatives for the children contended that these justifications do not meet legal standards. Through interviews with families, advocates identified cases of five children who were held for a staggering 168 days, underscoring the severity of the situation. The report did not disclose the ages of these children, leaving an additional layer of uncertainty regarding their well-being.
While the federal court permits the use of hotels for temporary detention for up to 72 hours, attorneys expressed skepticism regarding the government's data. They argued that the explanations provided did not sufficiently account for children remaining in hotel rooms beyond the three-day limit.
Concerns about the quality of conditions in detention facilities have persisted, particularly following the reopening of the family detention site in Dilley, Texas, earlier this year. Advocates have documented troubling instances of injuries among children and a lack of access to essential medical care. Notably, one child with a bleeding eye injury reportedly had to wait two days to be seen by medical staff. In another instance, a child suffered a broken foot after a staff member dropped a volleyball net pole.
Reports indicate that some children are receiving inadequate treatment for food-related illnesses, with one family being advised by medical personnel to return only if their child vomited eight times after experiencing food poisoning. Furthermore, disturbing testimonies from families reveal that children are receiving food that is not only spoiled but also infested with worms. One parent stated that their family was given moldy broccoli and cauliflower, raising serious questions about the safety and quality of food provided in these facilities.
Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee of the Central District of California is set to hold a hearing on these reports next week, a session that could lead to further intervention from the court regarding the treatment of immigrant children in detention.
