A federal judge in Los Angeles has ordered U.S. border officials to take immediate action. The order concerns migrant children at open-air sites in Southern California. Officials must quickly process and relocate these children. Advocates have documented squalid living conditions at these sites.

Judge Dolly Gee of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a 12-page order. She ruled that the federal government must comply with the Flores Settlement Agreement. This decision directly challenges the government’s argument that the children were not yet in U.S. custody. Federal officials had claimed they weren’t legally responsible for the children’s care at the camps.

The Flores Settlement Agreement is a long-standing legal settlement. It requires the U.S. government to provide basic services and humane conditions for all migrant children. This includes housing them in “safe and sanitary” facilities. The court’s finding highlights a significant failure to meet these standards. Advocates had provided evidence of poor sanitation, inadequate food, and exposure to the elements.

This court order is a critical development. It forces the government to address the humanitarian crisis at the border. It also upholds legal protections for migrant children. The judiciary’s role is to enforce long-standing agreements. This ensures vulnerable individuals are treated with dignity. The ruling sends a clear message that legal obligations cannot be sidestepped.