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217 days and counting: Trump's rules slow the release of migrant children to their families
National

217 days and counting: Trump's rules slow the release of migrant children to their families

  • By CEDAR ATTANASIO and AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press

Releases of immigrant children in U.S. custody have slowed dramatically since the Trump administration increased vetting of people seeking to take care of them. Government data show only 45 of more than 2,000 children in custody were released last month. The average child stay in federal shelters has gone up from just over one month to just over seven months. Relatives looking to get the children out of government custody as they apply for legal immigration protections say there are massive delays. DNA tests take many weeks. New requirements for proof of income and identity demand documents that many caretakers — especially those in the U.S. illegally — cannot obtain.