New Rule on Unaccompanied Children & the Crisis at the Border (Videos)

By
Tammy Waitt
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Large numbers of alien families are entering illegally across the southern border, hoping that they will be released into the interior rather than detained during their removal proceedings. Promulgating this rule and seeking termination of the FSA are important steps towards an immigration system that is humane and operates consistently with the intent of Congress. (Courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Large numbers of alien families are entering illegally across the southern border, hoping that they will be released into the interior rather than detained during their removal proceedings. Promulgating this rule and seeking termination of the FSA are important steps towards an immigration system that is humane and operates consistently with the intent of Congress. (Courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Kevin K. McAleenan and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar have announced a final rule that finalizes regulations implementing the relevant and substantive terms of the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA).

Importantly, the rule will allow for termination of the FSA, and allow DHS and HHS to respond to significant statutory and operational changes that have occurred since the FSA has been in place, including dramatic increases in the numbers of unaccompanied children and family units crossing into the United States.

(Beginning at 9:10 of video, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Kevin K. McAleenan, hosted a press conference at U.S. Customs and Border Protection headquarters regarding upcoming changes to the Flores ruling. The Acting Secretary provides remarks on the changes and takes questions from members of the media. Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and YouTube. Posted on Aug 21, 2019.)

Large numbers of alien families are entering illegally across the southern border, hoping that they will be released into the interior rather than detained during their removal proceedings.

Promulgating this rule and seeking termination of the FSA are important steps towards an immigration system that is humane and operates consistently with the intent of Congress.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are issuing final regulations that implement:

  • The relevant and substantive terms of the FSA (resulting in the termination of the FSA).

  • The way HHS accepts and cares for unaccompanied alien children.

  • The requirements that help ensure that all alien children (both accompanied minors and unaccompanied alien children) in the Government’s custody are treated with dignity, respect, and special concern for their particular vulnerability as minors.

  • The ability of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to maintain family unity by holding families with children in licensed facilities or facilities that meet ICE’s family residential standards, as evaluated by a third-party entity engaged by ICE (in the event that licensing is not available through the State).

  • A pathway to ensure the humane detention of families while satisfying the goals of the FSA.

  • The related provisions of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), including the transfer of unaccompanied alien children to HHS within 72 hours of the UAC determination, absent exceptional circumstances.

(See a brief tour of the South Texas Residential Family Center in Dilley, Texas. Courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by Charles Reed.)

“Today, the government has issued a critical rule that will permit the Department of Homeland Security to appropriately hold families together and improve the integrity of the immigration system,” explained Acting Secretary McAleenan on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

“This rule allows the federal government to enforce immigration laws as passed by Congress and ensures that all children in U.S. government custody are treated with dignity, respect, and special concern for their particular vulnerability.”

HHS Secretary Alex Azar
HHS Secretary Alex Azar

“The Department of Health and Human Services, through our Office of Refugee Resettlement, provides quality and compassionate care for unaccompanied alien children who are referred to our custody,” added Secretary Azar.

“In this rule, we are implementing the relevant and substantive portions of the Flores Settlement Agreement pertaining to standards for the temporary care, placement, and release of those minors.”

“As before, HHS will continue to protect the safety and dignity of unaccompanied alien children in our custody as we seek to place them with a parent, relative, or other suitable sponsor.”

The FSA always contained provisions for its implementation in regulations and its termination – originally, it was to remain in effect no more than five years; and then, in 2001, the parties agreed it would terminate after a final rulemaking.

Beginning in 2005, prior administrations repeatedly announced plans for a rule.  No prior administration, however, has issued a final rule.

With this achievement now complete, the FSA will terminate by its own terms, and the Trump Administration will continue to work for a better immigration system.

The rule takes effect in 60 days.

Learn More… 

(A video from the Center for Immigration Studies analyzes the organizations view on how a loophole in our asylum system known as the Flores Settlement Agreement is driving the border crisis. Courtesy of the Center for Immigration Studies and YouTube. Posted on Aug 20, 2019.)

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