Migrants are taken into custody by officials at the Texas-Mexico border, Jan. 3, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas.
The landmark settlement — named for a child immigrant from El Salvador, Jenny Flores — would remain in effect at the Border Patrol and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, creating what Welch called a “piecemeal” dismantling. Attorneys for unaccompanied children will oppose the move, which would be subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee in Los Angeles.Flores is a policy cornerstone, forcing children to be quickly released to family in the U.S.
“My only guess for why they would want to do this now is because Flores counsel is a thorn in their side," Welch said."We can go into facilities whenever we want, we can talk to the young people there, and when they're out of compliance we can file motions to enforce, and they don't like that.”