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2.0

Reported: ICE separates children from parents who refuse to board deportation flights

  1. Original Date Announced

    August 5, 2025

    The New York Times reports that ICE is using a new tactic, "interior separation," to pressure noncitizen families to leave the United States. The Times found nine cases in which ICE has detained parents and separated them from their childrentaking the children into federal custody or sending them to foster homesafter the parents refused to board commercial deportation flights. Agency records note in one case that "interior separation is approved;" other records show an ICE official concluded that an interior separation had no "implications/requirements" with respect to the court-ordered settlement agreement in the Ms. L family separation lawsuit that involved border separations.

    A former ICE official stated that she was not aware of previous administrations "using family separation as a consequence for failure to comply" with deportation orders. Current DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied that there is a new policy on family separations; she stated that parents "willfully choose" family separation by not complying with deportation orders.

    Two families interviewed reported that they refused to board flights to Russia because they fear torture or political persecution upon return.

    Trump 2.0 [#1899]

    2025.08.05 Reported: Inside Trump’s New Tactic to Separate Immigrant Families - New York Times

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Trump Administration Action: Change in Practice
Subject Matter: Interior Detention Minors
Agencies Affected: ICE DHS

Associated or Derivative Policies

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To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com