Minors who enter the U.S. without permission must be given a court hearing to determine whether they can be released, a federal appeals court panel decided unanimously Wednesday. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said immigration authorities continue to be bound by a 1997 lawsuit settlement that guaranteed court hearings for minor immigrants, set standards for their detention and established a policy in favor of their release. The 9th Circuit disagreed. The 9th Circuit cited evidence that the government has been holding minors for months or even years without hearings, even when parents are nearby and can care for them. The government may appeal the panel’s decision to a larger 9th Circuit panel or to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 05, 2017 20:15 UTC