Reunited Children's Lawsuit after Separation Continues in ConnecticutTop Stories

July 28, 2018 05:23
Reunited Children's Lawsuit after Separation Continues in Connecticut

(Image source from: courant.com)

The United States attorney has detailed the options available to two children who were reunited with their parents in Connecticut earlier this month after being separated at the United States-Mexico border.

According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport on Thursday, the U.S. attorney's office is prepared to make specific referrals to mental health, legal and educational services once the government is informed of where the children and their families will reside.

"On July 26, 2018, the plaintiffs requested that the defendants detail for them the differences in services available in Connecticut, Virginia, and Texas so the plaintiffs can determine where they want to live," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle McConaghy wrote in the court filing. "The defendants have requested this information. However, the defendants have been and are ready to make a referral for services for the plaintiffs once the defendants are advised in what state the plaintiff will reside."

A third hearing in the case of the two children and their families was scheduled for Friday morning but was canceled late Thursday after attorneys for the children requested more time to consider their options. A new court date of September has been scheduled.

The current court proceedings involve a 9-year-old boy from Honduras, identified as J.S.R. and a 14-year-old girl from El Salvador, identified as V.F.B. The two children crossed the border with their parents just as the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy was enacted and asylum seekers were detained at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The two children were taken from their parents at Texas detention centers and brought to a group home in Connecticut. A lawsuit on behalf of the children asking a federal judge to reunite the parents with their children was filed by Yale Law School and Connecticut Legal Services.

The children were reunited with their parents on July 17 after the U.S. Attorney John Durham expedited the release of their parents. Since then, it has remained unclear where the two families will go and what services they will require to integrate into normal life. Both children were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by medical professionals in Connecticut.

The court documents listed a number of post-release services available to the children and their families. The services including assistance with immigration court proceedings, sponsoring school enrollments, providing medical and mental health care and sponsoring family counseling.

According to the court documents, the post-release service providers would have to maintain records and make regular reports to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

By Sowmya Sangam

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