A federal judge in LA gave Trump admin until April 6 to deliver account of why it can’t quickly release many of the roughly 7k immigrant children being held and unite them with waiting sponsors. Yesterday a federal judge in DC expanded the ruling to their detained parents too. 2/— Molly O'Toole (@mollymotoole) March 31, 2020
The worry: ORR has confirmed 4 cases of coronavirus among minors in its custody (of 18 tested). ICE has put at least 1 kid under quarantine, awaiting test results. 8 ORR personnel or foster parents in 5 programs in NY, Washington and Texas self-reported testing + for COVID-19. 4/— Molly O'Toole (@mollymotoole) March 31, 2020
Judge Gee of US District Court in LA noted in her decision late Saturday that while children appeared less susceptible to COVID-19 than adults, in detention they were more vulnerable — not just to the virus but to trauma. Think: Quarantining or isolating (detained) young kids. 6/— Molly O'Toole (@mollymotoole) March 31, 2020
Gee favored plaintiffs due to "severity of the harm to which...exposed and the public’s interest in preventing outbreaks of COVID-19 among families and children in ICE or ORR custody that will infect ICE and ORR staff, spread to others...and likely overwhelm local healthcare" 7/— Molly O'Toole (@mollymotoole) March 31, 2020
