Child who may be American, separated from mom at border, has been in federal custody since 2015

[Judi Lynn]

By GRAHAM KATES CBS NEWS July 13, 2018, 4:30 PM


A young child who may be American, but is among the thousands classified as unaccompanied minors after being separated from parents near the Mexican border, has been in federal custody since 2015, the government acknowledged in a Thursday court filing.

The child, who is under the age of five, had been with a parent who was apprehended at the border on an outstanding warrant by the U.S. Marshals Service. In Thurday's court filing, lawyers for the government wrote that the parent "may or may not be a United States citizen." On Tuesday, the lawyers wrote "records show the parent and child might be U.S. citizens."

A representative for U.S. Health and Human Services did not reply to questions from CBS News about the type of facilities where the child has been housed since 2015. HHS oversees a foster care network as well as more than 100 childrens' shelters.

The Justice Department's court filing twice refers to the child as "her," but a representative of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that agency's records indicate the child is a boy. CBS News has reached out to multiple federal agencies for clarification.

More:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-child-was-separated-from-parent-at-border-in-2015/

Editorials and other articles:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016210850

[Wellstone ruled]

1. As many have suspected,

if this is the case,ICE and DHS will face legal troubles for years.