A 3-year-old immigrant girl has allegedly experienced sexual abuse while in federal custody in the United States, as reported by her family. The case has raised concerns about prolonged detention of minors and conditions in foster homes, according to Associated Press (AP).
The incident came to light after the girl’s father, a legal permanent resident in the country, turned to the courts after months of trying to reunite with his daughter, who had been separated from her mother when crossing the border between the United States and Mexico.
«She was there locked up for a very long time,» said her father. «I believe if they had acted more quickly, none of this would have happened.»
During this period, the girl was placed in a foster home in Harlingen, Texas, where, as per court documents cited by AP, she was allegedly abused by another minor. The complaint arose when a caregiver noticed unusual behavior and the girl recounted the incident.
The father initially received vague information from authorities about an alleged incident without further details.
The girl underwent a forensic examination, and the boy accused of the abuse was removed from the foster care program, according to the lawsuit. The case was reported to local police, noted the girl’s attorney, Lauren Fisher Flores.
«It is unimaginable that a child would be a victim of abuse while under government custody, not understand what happened or how to protect them, and not even be informed about the abuse,» expressed Fisher Flores. «Children deserve safety and should be with their parents.»
Delays and changes in immigration policies have led to significant delays in family reunification processes, with lawyers resorting to legal resources to expedite the release of minors.
Legal intervention eventually allowed the girl to be reunited with her father, although the alleged abuse was not immediately disclosed to him.
After five months of detention, the father noted behavioral changes in his daughter, including nightmares and emotional distress. They currently reside in Chicago with the girl’s grandparents as the case proceeds in immigration court.
«A bipartisan Congress designed protective measures based on the fundamental principle that children should be swiftly and safely returned to their families. This administration has consistently failed in its legal obligations to deliver children to their families, endangering the minors’ health and well-being,» added Desai.
Fuente: www.diariolibre.com
