After the latest hearing on the migrant family reunification process Friday, San Diego federal Judge Dana Sabraw said the process is on track for “meaningful closure in the not too distant future.”
As of last week, 182 children are still in U.S. custody – nearly two months after the federal government missed the deadline to reunite more than the then 2,600 migrant children separated from their parents at the border under the Trump’s administration’s zero-tolerance policy.
Six of the children are under the age of five.
The majority of children separated from their parents at the border are no longer in U.S. custody either because have been reunited with their parents or the children have been released to a U.S. sponsor.
For weeks, there have been negations for weeks between U.S. officials and attorneys representing a group of separated parents who claim they were not given a proper opportunity to make their asylum claim.
On Friday, attorneys from both sides said they are compiling lists from individuals who wish to go forward with their asylum claim, which would allow more than 1,000 migrant parents another attempt at asylum.
Judge Sabraw has been meeting every Friday with attorneys from both sides to get updates on the reunification efforts.
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He decided not to schedule a hearing for the first time next Friday, Sept. 28, saying the progress seemed to be “very positive news.”
