Federal Court Orders Trump Administration to Remedy Damage Caused by Family Separation Settlement Breach  

August 26, 2025 2:00 pm

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SAN DIEGO — A federal court that twice ruled the Trump administration violated a settlement agreement stemming from the Ƶ’s family separation lawsuit has now ordered the government to take specific steps to remedy the damage caused by the breach.

At issue is the administration’s sudden termination of two contracts — one with Acacia Center for Justice and the other with Seneca Family of Agencies — guaranteeing critical legal and social services to separated families covered in the 2023 agreement.

U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw of the Southern District of California ruled in June and July that the administration cannot evade its settlement agreement obligations. The judge this week ordered that the impacted families be provided additional time to access the vital services that were delayed because of the breach.

Ƶ attorney Lee Gelernt, lead counsel in the family separation lawsuit, had the following reaction:

“The court once again rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine this critical settlement and made clear these families must have an opportunity to get the services they need and to remain together.”

The rulings are here and here.


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