Resources Reports
Our reports on women, children and families in immigration detention have led to changes in immigration policy and practice in the U.S. Read our landmark studies that have resulted in these changes.
While conditions for children in DCS custody are more appropriate for children, DCS still fails to implement fully a “best interest of the child” approach. Facilities range from foster care programs to group homes, shelters and institutional juvenile detention centers. Confinement facilities are locked and surrounded by barbed wire. Children remain in DCS custody for an average of 55 days until a parent or guardian can be located. If there is no guardian available to release the child to, the child remains in DCS custody for the duration of his/her immigration case. While ORR/DCS has taken positive steps in providing child welfare-centered care, it continues to over-rely on confinement facilities—ranging from lock-up shelters to secure juvenile justice facilities.
