U.S. will reunite, release over 50 immigrant kids
more beds at military bases.
American Civil Liberties SAN DIEGO — More Union attorney Lee Gelernt than 50 immigrant children told reporters he was “both under age 5 will be pleased and disappointed” reunited with their parents with the government’s progress by Tuesday’s courtordered toward meeting the deadline for action deadline. by Trump administration, “Tomorrow there will and the families will then hopefully be more than 50 be released into the U.S., a babies and toddlers reunited government attorney said with their parents, and Monday. that is obviously an enormous
That’s only about half of victory,” he said. But the 100 or so toddlers covered he said those who remain by the order. split from their parents are
At a court hearing, Justice “in for a long process.” Department lawyer Sarah U.S. District Judge Dana Fabian acknowledged Sabraw ordered both sides the government wouldn’t back in court on Tuesday to meet the deadline for all the give another update. children, citing a variety The ACLU was drawing of reasons, including that up a proposal to shorten the parents of some of the the wait for the remaining youngsters have already children. Gelernt said some been deported. procedures — such as DNA
Fabian said that 54 children testing, fingerprinting and will be joined with requests for other information their parents by the end of — were designed for releasing Tuesday at locations across children to distant the country and that an relatives, not to parents. additional five were undergoing More than 2,000 children final background in all were separated from checks. their parents by U.S. immigration
It was the first time the authorities at the government indicated border this spring before whether the parents and President Donald Trump children would be released reversed course on June 20 or detained together. They amid an international outcry will be set free in the U.S. and said families should pending the outcome of remain together. their immigration cases, Late last month, Sabraw, which can take several an appointee of Republican years. President George W. Bush,
Fabian didn’t say why set a 14-day deadline to reunite they were being released, children under 5 with but U.S. Immigration and their parents and a 30-day Customs Enforcement has deadline for older children. little space to hold families. The 30-day deadline is up
ICE has three family detention July 26. centers with room Monday’s hearing set the for about 3,000 people in all, stage for a dramatic day of and the places are already reunifications on Tuesday at or near capacity. The across the country, though Trump administration is they are likely to occur trying to line up thousands largely outside public view.