Federal judge temporarily halts deportations of reunified immigrant families
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A federal judge in San Diego on Monday temporarily halted the deportation of reunified immigrant families.
U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw granted a motion for a temporary restraining order by the American Civil Liberties Union after the group cited concerns that the government would quickly deport the families without oversight or due process, according to an ACLU press release. USA Today and the Wall Street Journal have coverage.
Sabraw issued the TRO after he “tore into” a senior official with the Department of Health and Human Services who said quick family reunifications led to increased risks to child welfare, according to USA Today. HHS has the responsibility to care for the separated immigrant children, and the agency maintains that pressure to reunify families by Sabraw’s deadlines don’t permit enough time to screen the children as required by a trafficking law.
Sabra issued a preliminary injunction last month that required the reunification of separated families. He imposed a July 10 deadline for family reunification of children under the age of 5, and a July 26 deadline for children who are age 5 and older.
