3-Year-Old Immigrant Allegedly Abused in Federal Custody

Family says girl suffered sexual abuse while separated from parents for months

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:18am

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A close-up painting of a small, worn stuffed animal sitting alone on a wooden floor, bathed in soft, warm light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of loneliness and vulnerability.The alleged abuse of a young immigrant child in federal custody exposes the human toll of prolonged family separations.Harlingen Today

A 3-year-old immigrant girl was allegedly sexually abused while in federal custody for five months after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border with her mother. Her father, a legal permanent resident, says the government delayed reuniting them, leading to the abuse incident at a foster home in Harlingen, Texas. The family has filed a lawsuit against the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and Department of Health and Human Services.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigrant children in federal custody, including allegations of abuse, prolonged detention times, and difficulties for families to be reunited. It comes as the Trump administration has pushed to expand family detention and make it harder for sponsors to claim children from government care.

The details

According to court documents, the girl said she was sexually abused by an older child staying with her in a Harlingen, Texas foster home. A caregiver noticed the girl's underwear was on backward and she reported the abuse, which allegedly occurred multiple times and caused bleeding. Federal officials told the father there had been an 'accident' and the girl would be examined, but provided few other details. The older child accused of the abuse was removed from the foster program.

  • The girl and her mother illegally crossed the border near El Paso on September 16 of last year.
  • The girl was in federal custody for 5 months before her father was able to be reunited with her.

The players

The 3-year-old girl

The young immigrant child who was allegedly sexually abused while in federal custody after crossing the border with her mother.

The girl's father

A legal permanent resident in the U.S. who waited 5 months to be reunited with his daughter after she was taken into federal custody.

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

The federal agency that cares for immigrant children in shelter or foster settings after they are taken into custody.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The parent agency of ORR that was named in the lawsuit filed by the girl's family.

Lauren Fisher Flores

The lawyer representing the 3-year-old girl and her family in the lawsuit against ORR and HHS.

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What they’re saying

“To have your child abused while in the government's care, to not understand what has happened or how to protect them, to not even be told about the abuse, it is unimaginable. Children deserve safety and they belong with their parents.”

— Lauren Fisher Flores, Lawyer representing the girl and her family

“Increasingly, we have to turn to the federal courts to challenge these harmful legal violations and demand that children be released.”

— Lauren Fisher Flores, Lawyer representing the girl and her family

“This represents yet another version of family separation. A bipartisan Congress designed protections around the simple principle that children should be released to their family quickly and safely. This administration has been consistently flouting its legal obligations to release children to their families, profoundly jeopardizing children's health and well-being.”

— Neha Desai, Managing Director, Children's Human Rights and Dignity, National Center for Youth Law

What’s next

The girl's case is now moving through the immigration court system as she lives with her grandparents in Chicago. The family's lawsuit against ORR and HHS is ongoing.

The takeaway

This disturbing case highlights the ongoing challenges and alleged abuses faced by immigrant children in federal custody, even as the government has implemented policies to prolong their detention times. It underscores the urgent need for reforms to protect the wellbeing of vulnerable minors separated from their families.