The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and public interest law firm Terris, Pravlik & Millian, LLP are representing the Center for Family Representation in a case seeking transparency and accountability for how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are implementing ICE Directive 11064.4, entitled “Detention and Removal of Alien Parents and Legal Guardians of Minor Children,” which was issued in July 2025. This directive, referred to as the Detained Parents Directive, is meant to provide protections for parents and legal guardians in ICE custody and ensure that parents impacted by ICE enforcement actions are able to make decisions about their children’s care. However, advocates are concerned about whether the policies are being followed by ICE at a time when more and more parents and caregivers are facing the devastating impact of family separation after being detained in or deported from the United States.

In February, the Young Center and the Center for Family Representation (CFR) submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act for records related to implementation of the Detained Parents Directive, including policies and forms expressly referenced in the directive. ICE denied the request without searching for or producing any records. Accordingly, the Young Center is helping the Center for Family Representation seek a court order requiring full disclosure of records related to this important directive that impacts the fundamental liberty rights of parents to be with and raise their children regardless of their immigration status and protects against children being unnecessarily separated from parents.

• Complaint
   Filed 9/14/26