U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed in a court filing that hundreds of immigrant children were held in detention for periods exceeding the legal limit during the summer months. This admission has raised significant concerns among legal advocates regarding the government's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of these vulnerable children.

The court filing, submitted on December 1, disclosed that approximately 400 immigrant children were detained for more than the 20-day limit established by the Flores Settlement Agreement. This agreement, created in the 1990s, aims to ensure that children are kept in safe and sanitary conditions. The Trump administration had previously sought to terminate this agreement, raising further questions about the treatment of immigrant minors.

ICE's report indicated that the prolonged detention of these children was not limited to specific regions or facilities, with delays attributed to transportation issues, medical needs, and legal processing. However, legal advocates argue that these reasons do not provide lawful justifications for the extended detentions, citing instances where children were held for significantly longer periods, including five children who were detained for 168 days earlier in the year.

The use of hotels for temporary detention, permitted by federal court for up to 72 hours, has also faced scrutiny. Attorneys have raised concerns about the accuracy of the government's data regarding the duration of stays in hotels, suggesting it may not fully reflect the circumstances surrounding the children’s detentions.

Conditions at detention facilities have been a longstanding concern, particularly following the reopening of the family detention site in Dilley, Texas. Reports from advocates have documented injuries among children and inadequate access to medical care. For example, one child with an eye injury was not seen by medical staff for two days, and another child suffered a broken foot due to staff negligence. Additionally, complaints have surfaced regarding the quality of food provided, with reports of children receiving meals containing worms.

A hearing is scheduled for next week before Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee of the Central District of California, who may determine whether the court needs to take action in response to these findings.