On December 12, 2025, a federal court in Washington, D.C., ruled against ICE’s policy of detaining immigrant teens who turn 18, reinforcing protections for unaccompanied minors.
Washington, D.C., December 12, 2025 — A federal court in Washington, D.C., issued a significant ruling on December 12, ordering U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to adhere to a long-standing court order that safeguards immigrant teens from being transferred to adult detention centers. This decision blocks a recent ICE policy that mandated the automatic transfer of unaccompanied children to adult facilities upon reaching the age of 18.
The court’s order specifically pertains to children who entered the United States as unaccompanied minors and who “age out” of the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The ORR is the federal program responsible for caring for unaccompanied children by placing them in shelters and subsequently with family members or guardians.
This ruling enforces a permanent injunction established in the 2021 case Garcia Ramirez v. ICE, which obligates ICE to fulfill its statutory responsibilities by considering the least restrictive settings available for every unaccompanied child who turns 18. Furthermore, it mandates that all age-outs be eligible for alternatives to detention.
Suchita Mathur, a senior litigation attorney with the American Immigration Council, emphasized the importance of the ruling, stating, “This ruling makes clear that ICE cannot secretly flout the law or blatantly ignore court orders. ICE tried to detain newly-18-year-olds as a matter of course. These are kids that ICE officers have found, in almost all cases, do not pose a danger or flight risk, with sponsors, families, and community support waiting for them. This decision puts a stop to that.”
The controversial policy, announced on October 1, required that all unaccompanied children turning 18 be transferred to adult detention, regardless of whether they had safe homes and sponsors ready to take them in. Critics argue that adult detention poses significant risks to the teenagers’ short- and long-term development. Currently, ICE is holding a record number of individuals in detention, leading to overcrowding and inhumane conditions, including inadequate medical care, abusive treatment, and limited access to legal and psychological assistance. The court found that the automatic transfer of teens to adult detention, without considering safer, age-appropriate alternatives, constitutes a violation of the law.
Mark Fleming, associate director of federal litigation at the National Immigrant Justice Center, remarked, “Today’s ruling sends a powerful message: ICE can’t put teenagers in dangerous, overcrowded facilities just because they turned 18. There are safer, lawful options that keep young people connected to school, family, and community. That’s what the law requires, and that’s what this order restores.”
The court’s ruling mandates that ICE immediately cease following its October 1 guidance and remove anyone who was placed in detention as a result of this policy.
This decision marks a critical step in protecting the rights and well-being of immigrant teens, ensuring that they are not subjected to the harsh realities of adult detention facilities simply due to their age.
For further details, refer to the court order and the opinion.
According to American Immigration Council.