The Trump administration is reportedly set to announce a rule change which would allow the government to hold migrant families in detention camps indefinitely.
Currently, children crossing illegally into the US from Mexico can generally be held for a maximum of 20 days, a limit Donald Trump has blamed for encouraging undocumented families to arrive at the border.
Under the new rule, which would likely require court approval, the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) could hold children in detention for the entirety of their immigration proceedings, which can take months or even years.
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The move could be made public on Wednesday, according to ABC News, which spoke to government officials on condition of anonymity.
NBC News reported Trump administration officials expect to be sued in court imminently by opponents to the plan.
The possible holding of children indefinitely comes following an announcement by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that it will not vaccinate migrant families in detention ahead of this year’s flu season. »