A young father has waited five months to be reunited with his 3-year-old daughter after she was placed in federal custody after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border with her mother, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
It was only after he went to court that he learned that his daughter had allegedly been sexually abused in foster care, where she had been placed after being separated from her mother.
“She was there for so long … if they had moved faster, none of this would have happened,” the father told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Alleged abuse during long-term detention
According to court documents cited by the reporter, the child was placed in foster care in Harlingen, Texas, where she said she was abused by an older child.
The caregiver allegedly noticed signs of abuse, after which the girl revealed several instances that caused the bleeding. However, officials from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) only informed the father of an “accident”, without further details, the portal reported.
“I asked them what happened … but they said they couldn’t give more information,” the father said.
Details will emerge through the legal process
The full extent of the allegations emerged only after lawyers prepared a habeas corpus petition seeking the child’s release, the AP reported.
The girl underwent a forensic examination and interview, and the accused child was removed from foster care. Allegations of abuse were also reported to local law enforcement, according to the child’s attorney, Lauren Fisher Flores.
“To have your child abused while in the care of the government … is unimaginable,” Fisher Flores told the paper.
Policy changes under the Trump administration
The case comes amid tougher immigration policies put in place under Donald Trump that have significantly increased the length of time migrant children are detained, the news outlet said.
The child and her mother crossed the border near El Paso last September 16. After her mother was charged, the toddler was separated and placed in ORR custody.
The new rules expanded documentation requirements for sponsors, while immigration authorities increased enforcement measures, including arrests during the deportation process, the AP reported.
Detention time is increasing rapidly
Data cited by the AP show that the average time spent in childcare increased from 37 days in January 2025 to nearly 200 days in February.
Although the number of children in custody has fallen, advocates warn that longer detention times increase risks to children’s safety and well-being.
Legal challenges have been filed against these policies, with concerns that long-term detention could expose children to harm.
Courts are increasingly being used for reunification
Lawyers are now turning to habeas corpus petitions to expedite the children’s release, the portal reported.
Fisher Flores said her organization has handled several such cases this year, with children held for an average of 225 days — something not seen under previous administrations.
In this case, legal pressure forced action. After lawyers filed a motion, the girl was released to her father within two days.
Emotional reunion, permanent trauma
A father has described an emotional reunion with his daughter after months of separation.
However, he soon noticed behavioral changes, including nightmares and anxiety.
“She was never like that,” he said.
The child now lives with her father and grandparents in Chicago while her immigration case continues in court.
