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Original Date Announced
May 22, 2025The DOJ filed a motion in the Central District of California to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, which provides protections for migrant children who are detained in government custody after crossing into the United States either alone or with their families. In its motion, the DOJ claims termination is appropriate because of "the promulgation of regulations incorporating the goals of the FSA," as well as the Supreme Court's decision in Garland v. Aleman-Gonzalez.
The first Trump Administration unsuccessfully attempted to terminate the Flores Settlement in 2019. Flores v. Meese, No. 2:85-cv-04544 (C.D. Cal.).
**Link to case here. Our litigation entries generally report only the initial complaint and any major substantive filings or decisions. For additional information, CourtListener provides access to PACER and all available pleadings. Other sites that track litigation in more detail or organize cases by topic include Civil Rights Clearinghouse, Justice Action Center, National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and Just Security**
Trump 2.0 [ID #1771]
2025.05.22 Government Motion to Terminate Flores SettlementSubsequent Trump and Court Action
August 15, 20252025.08.15 Order - Flores, et al. v. Bondi
District Judge Dolly Gee denied the Trump administration's request to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement. The court held that the government is not yet in sufficiently substantial compliance to warrant termination of the agreement, and that there has been no meaningful change in factual conditions or in law since its last motion to terminate. Moreover, although Judge Gee acknowledged that the government has made some improvements in the conditions of confinement, she found that “[t]hese improvements are direct evidence that the FSA is serving its intended purpose, but to suggest that the agreement should be abandoned because some progress has been made is nonsensical.” Flores v. Meese, No. 2:85-cv-04544 (C.D. Cal.).
**Link to case here. See litigation note above**
View DocumentCurrent Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/Actual In LitigationTrump Administration Actions: Change in Practice Program TerminationAssociated or Derivative Policies
- June 21, 2018 DOJ requests relief from Flores settlement in order to detain children in family facilities
- October 4, 2018 DHS Secretary creates panel to examine best practices for families and children in CBP custody
- August 23, 2019 Final Rule terminating Flores Agreement on detention of migrant children
- April 16, 2020 ORR proposes information collection to allow UAC Program to monitor care provider facility compliance
Pre Trump-Era Policies
- September 16, 1996 Flores Settlement Agreement
- April 30, 2024 2024.04.30_Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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New Policy
Original Source:
Childrensrights.org - DOJ Motion to Terminate Flores Settlement
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Prior Policy
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Prior Policy
Original Source:
FedReg - Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule
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Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Order - Flores, et al. v. Bondi
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Commentary
Trump administration seeks to end protections for immigrant children in federal custody - AP News
AP News reports on statements by Trump administration officials in conjunction with the DOJ's motion to terminate the Flores agreement.
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