For five months, the young father waited for his three-year-old daughter’s release from federal custody after she crossed the US-Mexico border with her mother, hoping through delays for their safe reunion. The federal government intensified efforts to expand family detention indefinitely by motioning to terminate a cornerstone policy ensuring the protection of immigrant children in federal custody. During that time, according to court documents, the girl said she was sexually abused by an older child staying with her in foster care in Harlingen, Texas. The total number of children in ORR custody fell by about half during the same time period. Attorneys filed the habeas petition in federal court and two days later, the ORR released the girl to her father.

Source: The Guardian April 06, 2026 15:02 UTC