McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A young father is devastated after learning that his 3-year-old daughter allegedly suffered sexual abuse while in federal custody. The girl had been separated from her mother at the U.S.-Mexico border after crossing into the United States, and for five harrowing months, her father awaited her safe release.
Frustrated by delays and a lack of information, the father sought legal recourse and soon discovered the disturbing allegations against his daughter. She was so long in there, he lamented, expressing the urgent need for faster action from government officials. If they would have moved faster, nothing like that would have happened. He requested anonymity to protect his daughter’s identity.
Under the Trump administration’s policies, the care of immigrant children became increasingly scrutinized as new procedures were implemented, resulting in longer detention times. Stricter rules were set forth, leading to a dramatic increase in the time children spent in custody from an average of 37 days to nearly 200 days in recent months.
During her time in a Harlingen foster home, the girl disclosed to a caregiver that she had been sexually abused. Existing documentation from court files indicates that the caregiver was alerted after observing the girl wearing her underwear backward and upon further inquiry, she revealed that she had been harmed multiple times.
Officials from the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) had categorized the incident as an ‘accident’ and suggested that an investigation was underway. However, the father was frustrated by the lack of details and support, stating that he was met with walls of silence when he sought information.
This disturbing case brings to light the broader implications of government policies affecting immigrant children, especially as legal experts are increasingly filing habeas petitions to expedite their release. Legal director Lauren Fisher Flores spoke on behalf of the family: “To have your child abused while in the government’s care, to not understand what has happened or how to protect them, is unimaginable.”
After a lengthy legal battle, the father was ultimately able to reunite with his daughter, marking an emotional moment for them both. However, the impact of her ordeal remains—she has reportedly experienced nightmares and anxiety, behaviors not seen before her detainment.
This incident has sparked outrage among human rights advocates pushing for legal reforms, asserting that the treatment of children in immigration custody ignores fundamental human rights and safety standards. The father and daughter are currently resettled with family in Chicago while their legal proceedings continue.
