A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has temporarily blocked a Trump administration initiative that would have kept immigrant children in custody after their 18th birthdays, stopping plans to move them into adult detention centers. The ruling, issued late Saturday by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, halts what immigrant advocates described as an imminent mass transfer of young migrants and marks another legal blow to the administration’s hardline immigration agenda.
Court Halts Detention Move
Judge Rudolph Contreras issued a temporary restraining order against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), directing the agency to stop transferring unaccompanied immigrant children to adult detention once they turn 18. The Associated Press reported that the order was meant to prevent a wave of transfers expected over the weekend. Contreras found that the administration’s plan violated a 2021 federal court ruling that bars the automatic detention of such individuals.
Violation of Previous Ruling
The 2021 order required the government to release newly turned 18-year-olds into “the least restrictive setting available,” unless they were deemed a danger to themselves or others or likely to flee. Typically, these young adults are placed with relatives or in foster care. Contreras reaffirmed that any attempt to override this rule is unlawful and directly contradicts existing court protections for immigrant minors.
ICE Accused of Ignoring Orders
Despite the 2021 decision, attorneys representing immigrant youth reported receiving alerts that ICE had instructed shelters to stop releasing soon-to-be 18-year-olds—even those with approved family placements. According to AP, the agency was preparing to send them to adult detention centers instead. The judge’s intervention came just in time to halt that plan, underscoring ongoing tensions between federal courts and immigration authorities under Trump’s leadership.
Cash-for-Deportation Controversy
The ruling followed closely on reports that the Trump administration planned to offer immigrant children $2,500 to self-deport, described as a “one-time resettlement support stipend.” Immigrant rights groups condemned the move, calling it coercive and unethical. “This policy pressures children to abandon their legal claims and return to a life of fear and danger without ever receiving a fair hearing,” said Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition.
Renewed Family Separation Allegations
The administration is also facing renewed criticism over the alleged revival of family separation practices. Lawyers and former officials have claimed that authorities are once again splitting families to pressure immigrants into leaving the U.S. The Guardian reported that officials have misclassified separated children as “unaccompanied minors,” placing them in shelters or foster care while their parents face deportation or detention.
Stricter Screening Prolongs Custody
Immigration watchdogs say a growing number of minors remain stuck in federal custody due to tightened screening procedures before release. The process now involves fingerprinting, DNA testing, and home inspections, significantly delaying placements. These bureaucratic hurdles, critics argue, have extended detention times and worsened conditions for vulnerable children in government facilities.
Rising Detention of Non-Criminal Immigrants
Recent data highlights a sharp shift in detention trends. Immigrants with no criminal record now make up the largest share of those held in U.S. immigration facilities, surpassing detainees with pending criminal charges. Advocates say the data reflects a broader crackdown targeting vulnerable migrants rather than addressing genuine public safety concerns.