Judge again calls on Obama to release immigrant children
A US federal judge has once again called on the Obama administration to promptly release immigrant children imprisoned at family detention facilities.
Judge Dolly Gee in Los Angeles issued a ruling on Friday, giving federal officials until Oct. 23 to free children, who she said should not be held for over 72 hours unless they pose threat to themselves and others.
In her 15-page order, Gee called the detention centers “deplorable,” saying they “failed to meet even the minimal standard” for “safe and sanitary” conditions.
She blasted federal officials for reiterating the same arguments they had raised in earlier briefings which were all already rejected by the judge.
Although government attorneys assert that conditions at the centers have improved, Gee maintained that they had failed to prove it.
Last fiscal year, border officers arrested over 68,000 people, some of whom were apprehended trying to sneak into the US, while others surrendered and requested asylum, a request that is one of their rights under US and international laws.
On July 24, Gee first ordered the immediate release of children and their mothers who were captured crossing the US-Mexico border illegally.
"Children and their mothers were held for one to three days in rooms with 100 or more unrelated adults and children, which forced children to sleep standing up or not at all," wrote Gee, who is based in Los Angeles.
According to 1997 legal settlement -- known as the Flores agreement -- there are legal requirements for the housing of children, who seek asylum.
Gee argues that that the US government has violated the agreement and brought up the issue both in her July and Friday ruling.
US set to demand five-years of social media data from all foreign visitors
Epstein emails: Trump knew of abuse, spent hours at his mansion and stayed silent
'Migrants at largest US detention camp face foul water, rotten food'
VIDEO | South Koreans join migrants in Seoul to protest on Migrant Workers' Day
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Iraq, UN officially mark end of UNAMI mission in country
VIDEO | Chileans head to the polls as presidential vote opens
US would face defeat in armed conflict with Venezuela - as in 12-day war: Envoy
Israel’s killing of senior commander threatens Gaza ceasefire: Hamas
Iran condemns ‘violent’ attack on Jewish event in Australia
Afghanistan’s regional integration key to lasting stability: Iran FM
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
