Legal Coalition Files Petitions to Free Detained Immigrant Children

The Children’s Due Process Project, a coalition of more than 50 legal organizations and law firms, has launched a legal campaign to free hundreds of unaccompanied immigrant children from federal custody. The project uses habeas corpus petitions in federal courts to challenge the Office of Refugee Resettlement, arguing that the agency is holding children indefinitely even after they have identified vetted sponsors in the United States.

Advocates allege that the Trump administration has defunded legal representation and implemented restrictive policies to increase control over minors and accelerate deportations. As of late August, approximately 1,900 children remained under federal control, with some detentions lasting over a year.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services defended the detentions, stating that rigorous safety vetting is required to combat criminal smuggling organizations. The department further claimed that its release standards are consistent with those used in the U.S. foster care system.