HHS produced an updated plan to unite 2,551 migrant children with their parents after drawing criticism from a federal judge, according to Politico.
U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw criticized HHS for suggesting it would have to risk matching children to the incorrect adult to meet a July 26 deadline for reuniting all families with children ages 5 to 17. Judge Sabraw said safe reunifications can be done in the time allotted.
HHS was previously tasked with reuniting 102 children under 5 years old with their parents by July 10. Forty-six children are still separated from their parents due to logistical issues, such as a parent who was deported, according to a previous report.
The new HHS plan will not rely on DNA testing to verify parentage, as older children will be better able to talk with caseworkers. The department plans to send parents to a facility to do a background check and confirm parentage, then transport the children to that facility within 48 hours, according to The New York Times. HHS says this plan will reunite up to 200 families per day.
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