News Round Up 5/27 – 6/2/2025 Part 5

Trump Seeks to End Protections for Migrant Children Under Flores Agreement
The Trump administration is pushing to terminate the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement, which sets standards for the care and detention of immigrant children. Announced on May 30, 2025, the move has sparked legal and humanitarian concerns, with courts likely to intervene as they did during Trump’s first term.

On May 30, 2025, the Trump administration filed a court motion to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, a landmark 1997 ruling that mandates humane treatment for immigrant children in detention, including access to food, water, clean clothing, and limits on detention duration. The administration argues that the agreement encourages unauthorized migration and hampers enforcement efforts. This is the second attempt by Trump to dismantle the agreement, with courts blocking a similar move during his first term.

Legal Filing: The administration’s court filing claims the Flores Agreement undermines border security by imposing restrictive standards on detention facilities.
Opposition Mobilizes: Immigrant advocacy groups and legal experts have vowed to challenge the move, citing the agreement’s critical role in protecting vulnerable children.

Historical Precedent: Previous attempts to alter the Flores Agreement faced strong judicial resistance, suggesting a tough legal road ahead for the administration.

The Flores Settlement Agreement emerged from a class-action lawsuit addressing the mistreatment of unaccompanied migrant children in U.S. custody. It established minimum standards for their care and limited detention to 20 days in most cases. The agreement has been a cornerstone of child welfare in immigration policy, but critics, including the Trump administration, argue it creates loopholes that incentivize illegal border crossings. The current push aligns with broader efforts to expedite deportations and reduce protections for migrants.