Court Lifts Part of Flores Settlement

Photo of Judge Dolly Gee courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Dating back to 1997, the Flores settlement is in the news again.  Courthouse News reports that, last Friday, a federal court partially terminated the agreement that shields underage migrants apprehended at the U.S. border from immigrant detention and sets standards for their housing.

U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee granted in part the U.S. government’s request to terminate the agreement to the extent that it applies to the Department of Health and Human Services’ obligations concerning the placement, care and services provided to unaccompanied minors.  Importantly, the settlement remains in place with respect to the requirement that children must be released from the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol within 72 hours.

KJ