FAQ: What the Garcia Ramirez v. ICE decision means for unaccompanied children about to turn 18
Garcia Ramirez v. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a nationwide class action lawsuit in the District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the practice of transferring children who arrive in the United States without parents or legal guardians from the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ICE-contracted jails and prisons on their 18th birthdays, without considering less restrictive placements. These answers to frequently asked questions are intended to guide legal representatives on the meaning of the Garcia Ramirez decision when representing unaccompanied children who are approaching their 18th birthdays, or those who have already turned 18 and are in ICE custody. These FAQs also incorporate best practices learned throughout the course of litigating this class action.