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Children Held Months Past Limit in U.S. Facilities
10 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Hundreds of children detained past the 20-day limit, some over five months.
- Reports cite contaminated food, lack of medical care, and inadequate legal aid.
- Detention conditions include moldy food and delayed medical attention.
Hundreds of immigrant children have been detained beyond the court-established 20-day limit, with some cases extending over five months. Attorneys highlighted government admissions of prolonged custody times, contaminated food, and inadequate access to medical care and legal counsel at federal facilities. These issues were detailed in recent court filings related to a long-standing civil lawsuit aimed at improving conditions for detained youth.
The primary reasons cited for extended detentions by the government included transportation delays, medical needs, and legal processing. However, legal advocates argue these do not justify the lengthy holds. They have documented instances of children being held for up to 168 days, raising serious concerns about the government's adherence to established standards.
Further exacerbating the situation are reports of deteriorating conditions, including instances of children receiving moldy food with worms and experiencing delayed medical attention for serious injuries. A hearing is scheduled to address these grave concerns and determine potential court interventions.
