This article explains how the Trump administration has renewed its attempt to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, a foundational policy dating back to the 1990s that mandates humane treatment and limits detention duration (to 72 hours) of migrant children held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The administration argues the agreement impedes efficient immigration enforcement, including efforts to expand family detention capacities.
However, this marks the administration’s second legal push to dismantle Flores, following an earlier effort in 2019 that was struck down by the Ninth Circuit, largely because the government failed to propose a viable alternative for safeguarding child welfare. Advocates warn that ending these protections could jeopardize the health and rights of vulnerable migrant minors.