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Original Date Announced
March 12, 2025The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it has stopped placement of unaccompanied migrant children in shelters operated by Southwest Key Programs, and has moved all children there to other shelters. Southwest Key operates 27 shelters that provide temporary living arrangements for unaccompanied minors and is the largest private housing provider for unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S. HHS will also review its grants with the organization.
Trump 2.0 [ID #1606]
2025.03.12 HHS Stops Placement of UACs in Southwest Key Shelters & DOJ Dismisses LawsuitSubsequent Trump and Court Action(s)
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March 12, 2025
Report: Advocate Seeks to Revive Suit Over Migrant Child Abuse -Bloomberg Law
Bloomberg Law reported that a youth advocacy group, The National Center for Youth Law, asked a federal judge to join the litigation that DOJ sought to drop. David Hinojosa, litigation director, wrote that dropping the suit would mean “[c]ountless children now risk being denied any recourse for the terrible harms suffered while in the care of Southwest Key.”
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March 12, 2025
2025.03.12 United States v. Southwest Key Programs - Joint Stipulation of Dismissal
In light of HHS's actions, DOJ voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit against Southwest Key. The initial complaint, filed in July 2024, had alleged that Southwest Key employees sexually abused and harassed children at its shelters. United States v. Southwest Key Programs, No. 1:24-cv-00798 (W.D. Tex.).
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
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Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: ReportedTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: DetentionAssociated or Derivative Policies
Pre Trump-Era Policies
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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Commentary
2025.03.09 DOJ drops lawsuit relating to sexual abuse of migrant children - Bloomberg Law
Bloomberg Law first reported on DOJ's planned dismissal of the lawsuit, stating that the decision reportedly followed an email from Southwest Key’s attorneys to DOJ officials arguing that additional protections for detainees would “actually incentivize illegal crossings at the southern border.”
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