Thread by @reveal

1/ NEW: Last summer, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reunite families split up at the border.

But there’s a catch: The ruling only applies to parents – not legal guardians.
revealnews.org/article/govern…

2/ Since legal guardians aren’t considered class members of the Ms. L case, which forced the government to reunify separated families, they have to file their own legal claims to be released and see their children again.

3/ Some lawyers say these families should get the same court protections afforded to parents.

“They are the functional equivalent of parents,” said attorney Joshua Toll, who is representing two legal guardians.

4/ Meanwhile, “legal guardians and stepparents expressed frustration at government officials for failing to recognize the legal documentation” that shows they have custody of the children, per this recent @TXCivilRights report:

texascivilrightsproject.org/wp-content/upl…

5/ The report highlights the case of a woman who was separated from her niece for more than six months “in large part because the government refuses to treat legal guardians as parents to keep families together.”

6/ Among the legal guardians is Marta Alicia Mejia from Honduras. She raised her great-grandson, Esdras, since he was born. He calls her “mamita.” But after crossing the border, they were separated for 7 months.

courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

7/ At a detention center, Mejia watched as parents were released while she stayed behind. Her great-grandson was placed in foster care.

When he was released to their family in Texas, he kept asking for her.

courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

8/ @RAICESTEXAS took on Mejia’s case. In January, she was reunited with Esdras.

“When I entered this house, the first question he asked me was, ‘Why did you leave me behind?’ ” Mejia said. “I fought until the end for my boy.”

9/ Reporters @lauracmorel, @aurabogado and @patrickmichels continue to track the lasting impacts of the Trump administration’s family separation policies.

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