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Nearly 1,900 immigrant children held for months, many with families waiting

Nearly 1,900 unaccompanied children have spent an average of 183 days in federal custody despite many having sponsors ready to take them in. Over 50 legal groups are now filing petitions to help reunite them with family.

Sep 3, 2026

Nearly 1,900 immigrant children held for months, many with families waiting
Photo via The Guardian

More than 50 legal organizations, including the National Center for Youth Law, Acacia Center for Justice, The Door, and Loyola University Chicago's Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, have formed the Children's Due Process Project to file habeas corpus petitions on behalf of roughly 1,900 unaccompanied children held in federal immigration custody. Government data shows these children have spent an average of 183 days in shelters or foster care despite many having sponsors or family members ready to take them in. The Trump administration recently defunded the children's existing attorneys and scheduled accelerated immigration hearings seeking their removal before they can access legal protections. "That's the race that we're in, is can we help children get to their families before they get chewed up and spit out by the child detention system?" said Becky Wolozin, a senior attorney involved in the effort.

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