DONNA, Texas (AP) — The Biden administration for the first time Tuesday allowed journalists inside its main border detention facility for migrant children, revealing a severely overcrowded tent structure where more than 4,000 people, including children and families, were crammed into a space intende
apnews.com
March 30, 2021
"Biden has declined to resume the Trump-era practice of expelling unaccompanied immigrant children. Several hundred kids and teenagers are crossing the border daily, most fleeing violence, poverty or the effects of natural disasters in Central America. In some cases, parents refused entry into the U.S. have sent their children across the border alone, hoping they will be placed with relatives eventually.
The Border Patrol is apprehending far more children daily than Health and Human Services is placing with U.S. sponsors, leading to a severe backlog in the system. The Border Patrol generally is not supposed to detain children for more than three days, but Health and Human Services lacks space.
More than 2,000 kids have been at the Donna facility for more than 72 hours, including 39 for more than 15 days."
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AI Overview
Under the Biden administration, migrant children were detained for an average of 35 days in shelters before being released to relatives. While the administration aims to release children to sponsors within 30 days, some remain in custody longer, with a median detention duration of 43 days. A report highlighted that 88% of children were held longer than the 20-day limit stipulated by the Flores Settlement Agreement.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Target Timeframe:
The Biden administration aimed to release children to eligible sponsors within 30 days.
- Average Detention:
The average length of detention in shelters was 35 days.
- Longer Detentions:
A significant portion of children were held longer than the Flores Settlement Agreement limit of 20 days.
- Inadequate Care:
Reports indicate issues with supervision, documentation of medical care, and screening for mental health distress.
- Challenges in Release:
Despite efforts to expedite releases, some children remained in custody longer than desired, and some sponsors went unanswered during follow-up calls.
- Deportation Proceedings:
Tens of thousands of children have been ordered deported, many without legal representation or a fair hearing.
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- AI Overview
Concerns have been raised regarding the conditions and duration of detention for immigrant children under the Biden administration
.
Detention Duration:
- Legally, unaccompanied minors apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) are not to be held for longer than 72 hours.
- However, due to a surge in arrivals, especially in 2021, some children were detained in CBP facilities for periods exceeding this limit, with hundreds being held for more than 10 days.
- ICE has converted Family Residential Centers (FRCs), previously used for family detention exceeding 72 hours, to Family Staging Centers (FSCs) intended for stays under 72 hours.
- Some sources indicate the administration may be considering reinstating a controversial practice of detaining migrant families, potentially impacting the duration of child detention.
- Detention Conditions:
- Conditions in detention facilities, both those run by CBP and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have been criticized.
- Reports have documented instances of overcrowding, inadequate medical care, unsanitary conditions, and risks to children's safety and well-being.
- Examples include crowded makeshift rooms, lack of adequate mental health staff, insufficient cleaning, and instances of illness and injury.
- A recent lawsuit alleges inhumane conditions at an immigrant center, with accounts of unsafe water and lack of privacy.
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- Hundreds of migrant children and teens traveling without their parents have been held in jail-like detention centers at the border for 10 days, and longer, a DHS document obtained by NPR shows.
Under law, minors are only allowed to spend 72 hours in the detention centers, which are run by Customs and Border Protection.
But as of Thursday, more than 500 of the young migrants have spent more than 240 hours in the border facilities, according to the DHS documents.
Spokespersons for CBP and DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Thursday.
The Biden administration is struggling to address the rapidly growing number of unaccompanied minors arriving at the border. Biden administration officials acknowledged the challenge, but earlier on Thursday told reporters they are "dealing with the hand they were dealt" by the previous administration.