Beginning in May 2018, a “zero tolerance” policy was implemented by the U.S. Government with regards to immigration at the the border between Texas and Mexico. As a result of the policy change, all adults at the border who had entered the country illegally were apprehended and prosecuted, regardless of if they were seeking asylum or were traveling with minor children. In order for prosecution to occur, adults were placed in federal detention centers, where minors were not allowed. The result of this was the separation of many minor children from their parents.
Minors, unable to stay with their parents, were placed in family immigration detention centers, where they could remain for twenty days. If their parents were not released from detention by the expiration of that time, immigrant children were then treated as unaccompanied alien children and transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’s) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for care and custody. The zero-tolerance policy was in place for six weeks before it was rescinded, although many border separations still occurred.
According to a study by the Congressional Research Service, during the six weeks the policy was active, DHS separated 2,816 children from their parents or guardians. Prior to the zero tolerance policy, an addition 1,556 children were separated from their parents.
Although the policy was eventually rescinded, hundreds of children were unable to be reunited with their parents. Many adults had been deported, while their minor children remained in the county, making it impossible to reunited them with their family. The unfortunate reality is that the decision to separate the minors from their parents had a side effect.
Spagnoletti Law Firm has attorneys licensed in Texas, Florida, and New York. We have handled numerous cases involving complex litigation in both federal and state court across the country. Our attorneys have the skills needed to aggressively represent the families of loved ones who have experienced damages as a result of a border separation. Our lawyers are currently investigating potential claims on behalf of parents and minors who were separated at the United States border.
The experienced attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was harmed, Please call us to learn about your rights. Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your legal rights.