Trump Administration Fails to Lift Flores Settlement

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The Flores settlement has protected detained immigrant minors since the 1990s. “The Flores settlement established basic standards for the treatment of unaccompanied minors who were in the custody of federal authorities for violating immigration laws. . . . It requires the federal government to place children with a close relative or family friend `without unnecessary delay,’ rather than detaining them; and to keep immigrant children who are in custody in the `least restrictive conditions’ possible. Generally speaking, this has meant migrant children can be kept in federal immigrant detention for only 20 days.”

The Associated Press reports that U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee denied the Trump administration’s request to lift U.S. government of the obligations of the Flores settlement.  Here is the ruling.

KJ