San Antonio child welfare advocates say the latest federal immigration crackdown is hitting children hardest, with hundreds of Texas minors at risk of long-term emotional and developmental harm.
Advocates warned Wednesday that recent enforcement actions are keeping children in federal custody or short-term Border Patrol facilities longer than intended. Overcrowded shelters are struggling, and many children’s mental health needs go unmet. Organizers held a virtual press event urging officials to pursue alternatives focused on child safety and community-based oversight.
CHILDREN AT RISK and allied groups issued the warning during a virtual event streamed Wednesday on the group’s Facebook page, according to KENS5. Local advocates said expanded federal detentions and targeted raids are increasing the number of children facing separation, delays, and uncertainty.
Dr. Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK, told attendees that "children need safety and stability. Detaining children is not only harmful, it’s unnecessary," according to KENS5. Advocates pointed to both local and national reporting to argue that the problem is widespread and particularly acute in Texas.
Recent filings and federal disclosures show hundreds of immigrant children held in government custody for periods that advocates say stretch far beyond court-set limits, in some cases for months at a time. A December filing cited by the Associated Press showed roughly 400 children were held beyond the Flores agreement’s 20-day guideline during a recent reporting window, and attorneys said several children had been detained for as long as 168 days.
Why advocates say detention harms children
Clinicians and advocates point to a growing body of research that links detention and forced separation with sharp increases in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and developmental setbacks in children. A December 2025 systematic review in The British Journal of Psychiatry found that detention is associated with markedly elevated rates of PTSD and depression among children, and that longer or indefinite detention is tied to worse outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also warned that Border Patrol processing centers and similar detention environments are not appropriate for children and can intensify existing mental health problems. British Journal of Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics
Legal and policy context
Federal case law and the Flores settlement set limits on how long minors may be kept in federal custody, along with minimum standards for their care. Attorneys representing detained families have used recent filings to argue that the government is overshooting those time limits and falling short on conditions. The Associated Press reported that lawyers drew on government data in court to document extended stays, unsanitary conditions, and reliance on hotels or emergency sites, findings that led to a scheduled hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee.
What advocates want
Child welfare groups, including CHILDREN AT RISK are urging federal officials to avoid placing children in ICE custody when workable alternatives exist and instead expand community-based programs that can monitor compliance without putting kids in detention. Organizers are calling for stronger mental health screening, improved medical care in any temporary settings, and more resources for sponsors and local nonprofits that house children while their cases move forward.
Advocates said their immediate goal is to secure concrete, enforceable changes that shorten children’s time in federal custody and reduce the use of hotels or ad hoc sites for families and unaccompanied minors. They plan to continue tracking court filings and to press state and federal lawmakers for oversight that puts children’s health and development ahead of broad enforcement objectives.
