Federal Judge Approves 8-Year Settlement Barring Migrant Family Separations

A federal judge in San Diego has approved a settlement that prohibits U.S. officials from separating migrant families who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The settlement, resulting from a 2018 lawsuit filed by the ACLU, also offers aid to thousands of parents and children who were previously forced apart under the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy. Crossing the border illegally will no longer be a reason for family separation for the next eight years. The settlement provides assistance to reunite families, clear immigration records, and offers work permits, housing assistance, medical care, and counseling. The judge praised the settlement but emphasized the need to continue searching for all children who remain separated from their parents.