Detention of Children of Illegal Immigrants in America to Be Extended
Washington seeks to limit and control illegal immigration across the Mexican border through stricter regulations. The White House and the US Department of Homeland Security say that under the new regulations, the detention of immigrant children will not have a 20-day ceiling.
The Donald Trump administration wants to eliminate the 20-day threshold for the detention period of children who have entered America illegally with their parents. The White House and the US Department of Homeland Security have announced that the new regulations will not set a ceiling for the detention period of children.
The new regulations aim to control the wave of migrants entering American soil from the southern borders and from Mexico. Kevin McAleenan, acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, says: “The incentive for illegal border crossing with vulnerable children must end.” He added that the previous regulations did not account for how rapidly family migrations and migrations of minors from Central America would accelerate.
Until now, according to federal court rulings, the relevant authorities have been permitted to keep the children of illegal immigrants in appropriate conditions, but at the same time have been required to provide them the opportunity for release after a maximum of 20 days.
This ruling has been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration and is considered a loophole for illegal immigrants, because the parents of these children are also released from detention along with them and can live in America during the time the authorities decide on refugee acceptance. Some of these individuals disappear after being temporarily released from detention.
The White House says that if there are no legal challenges to the new regulations, they will be implemented within the next two months. Of course, it is highly unlikely that no objections to the new regulations will be raised.
Wave of Criticism and Protest
The announcement of the new regulations comes as the US government has been heavily criticized by Democratic politicians and civil activists over the same multi-week detentions and housing of children in inhumane conditions.
Inspectors from the US Department of Homeland Security, last month after visiting refugee and migrant camps at the Mexican border, described their conditions as “unbearable.” The inspectors’ report stated that most camp residents survive on only a sandwich, have no medical services, do not bathe, and after weeks are still wearing the same clothes they had on when detained.
Last year, the Trump administration for a time separated the children of illegal immigrants from their parents at the border and sent them to separate camps. The public did not remain silent in the face of this policy, and Trump backed down from the decision after six weeks. After that, it was said that only children would be separated if their parents’ behavior posed a danger to their health.
The American Civil Liberties Union recently announced that government officials had used observations of any violations, including traffic violations or delays in changing a child’s diaper, as a pretext for separating the child from their parents.
Source: DW
