Family separation enjoined, then constrained by settlement
A federal court blocked most parent-child separations and ordered reunification; a later settlement added future limits and support services.
Entities and roles
- Ms. L. v. ICE family-separation class actionclass action and settlement
- Donald J. Trumppresident during the challenged separation practice
Claims and evidence
- factsettled
The later Ms. L. settlement established limits on future separations and provided reunification work, immigration relief, and support services; the Justice Department's immigration-review office was still operating legal services for settlement class members in June 2026.
- United States Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review: Legal Services for Ms. L. Class Members and Qualifying Additional Family MembersProgram description; page updated June 2, 2026
- United States Department of Justice: U.S. Government Reaches Settlement in Class Action Family Separation Case Seeking Injunctive ReliefPress release, settlement terms paragraphs 1-3
- factenjoined
On June 26, 2018, the district court certified a class of separated parents, preliminarily prohibited future separations except in specified circumstances, and required reunification of families already separated.
- United States Department of Justice: U.S. Government Reaches Settlement in Class Action Family Separation Case Seeking Injunctive ReliefPress release, litigation background paragraphs 1-2