A family alleges that their 3-year-old daughter suffered sexual abuse while in federal custody after being separated from her mother at the U.S.-Mexico border. The girl was placed in foster care in Harlingen, Texas, where she reportedly endured multiple instances of abuse by an older child staying with her. According to court documents cited by PBS, a caregiver noticed the child's underwear was on backward and that the abuse caused bleeding.
Key Takeaways
A family alleges that their 3-year-old daughter suffered sexual abuse while in federal custody after being separated from her mother at the U.S.-Mexico border. According to court documents, the girl was abused by an older child in foster care and underwent forensic exams without full disclosure of results to her father.
- Family claims 3-year-old was sexually abused in federal custody
- Girl was separated from mother after crossing near El Paso
- Father learned about abuse through legal intervention
- Average ORR custody times rose from 37 days to nearly 200 under Trump administration
- Legal advocates challenge policies leading to prolonged detention
The father, who is a legal permanent resident in the United States, waited for five months before turning to the courts as a last resort. He learned about the alleged abuse while attorneys prepared a lawsuit against the federal government. The Guardian reports that officials told him there had been an “accident” and his daughter would be examined but did not provide further details.
The girl's mother was charged with making false statements, leading to their separation at the border near El Paso on September 16 of last year. The federal government intensified efforts to expand family detention indefinitely by terminating a cornerstone policy ensuring the protection of immigrant children in federal custody. According to HuffPost, average custody times for children cared for by ORR grew from 37 days when Trump took office in January 2025 to almost 200 days this February.
The father's attempts to be reunited with his daughter stalled due to delays in fingerprinting and background checks. Legal advocates filed lawsuits challenging the policy changes, which have resulted in prolonged detention times. The Guardian reports that attorneys are now turning to habeas petitions to expedite the release of children to their parents and sponsors.
The family is now living in Chicago with the girl's grandparents while her case moves through the immigration court. The father has noticed changes in his daughter, who now suffers from nightmares and is easily upset. Legal advocates argue that these policies represent yet another version of family separation and are challenging them in federal courts.
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