Local judge orders the release of detained immigrant minors

In one of our most recent articles, we discuss about an official order issued by a local judge declaring that minor immigrants who have been detained for more than 20 days in family detention centers must be released no later than the 17 of July, 2020.

This order specifically targets three family detention centers based in Pennsylvania and Texas.

The official order states that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) has two options to release detained minors.

1. Release minors with their families (also detained).
2. Find trustworthy sponsors to take care of the children while the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) resolves their immigration cases.

ICE currently has in its custody more than 139 minors and 138 parents in these three family detention centers. Therefore, ICE must release the minors during the next 14 days to avoid a severe judicial processes.

The judge argues that it is outrageous to keep minors detained in overcrowded centers during the health crisis caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to that, the risk increases with the fact that a massive COVID-19 outbreak has already been reported in two of the three centers involved in this case.

If you need help with an Immigration Case, feel free to contact our experienced immigration attorneys.

The Trump government does not agree with this measure

The current administration of the US responded to the official order, arguing that the evidence is not enough to corroborate that conditions in ICE centers are not adequate or safe for detainees.

On top of that, the Trump administration claims that granting freedom privileges to people who tried to cross borders without legal documentation only encourages and drives mass illegal immigration.

President Trump said that ICE will try to do everything possible to comply with the judge’s orders, but that he does not fully agree with the measure and he will try to revoke it, mainly to prevent this from becoming a common pattern among immigrant communities.

Activists also raise their voices

In addition to opposition from the Donald Trump government, multiple activists around the country have stated that this official order could increase family separation and harm the development of children who grow up without their families.

For instance, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) stated: “Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that ICE is listening to the American public that does not want the separation of families”.

Therefore, activists also argue that this is a good strategy to protect the immigrant human rights, as long as ICE releases the children together with their relatives and remotely monitors them to avoid illegal activity (without authorization or documentation) inside the US.

Avoid precarious situations

In light of the current health and economic crisis, the last thing you should do is to put your immigration case and your family’s safety at risk.

That is why we recommend for you to seek reliable help for your immigration application. Our experienced attorneys have helped many people in the same situation as you.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.