Legal Framework

Convention on the Rights of the Child — Article 37

Prohibits torture and cruel treatment of children and restricts child detention to a last resort for the shortest appropriate time. Detained children must be treated with dignity, separated from adults, and guaranteed access to legal assistance.

Related incidents

1 incident

Midnight Deportation of 76 Guatemalan Children: Labor Day Weekend Mass Removal Attempt

The administration attempted a mass deportation of unaccompanied minor children in the middle of the night during a holiday weekend, circumventing legal protections that require children to appear …

  • On August 31, 2025 (Labor Day weekend), 76 unaccompanied Guatemalan children in US government custody were roused from their beds around …
  • HHS began contacting shelter care providers around 10:00 PM Central time on August 30, ordering them to prepare children for immediate …