Trending Now - Family Claims 3-year-old Immigrant Faced Abuse in Custody

WHO:

ABC News - A 3-year-old girl, her father (a legal permanent resident), and her mother are involved in the case.

ABC News - Lauren Fisher Flores is the lawyer representing the girl.

ABC News - The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and the Department of Health and Human Services are named in the lawsuit.

WHAT:

ABC News - The girl allegedly suffered sexual abuse while in federal custody.

ABC News - The father fought for five months for his daughter's release from federal custody.

ABC News - The average custody time for children in ORR care increased from 37 days in January 2025 to almost 200 days in February 2026.

ABC News - Legal advocates filed eight habeas corpus petitions representing children held in federal custody for an average of 225 days in 2026.

WHERE:

ABC News - The girl was placed in foster care in Harlingen, Texas.

ABC News - The girl and her mother crossed the U.S.-Mexico border near El Paso, Texas.

WHEN:

ABC News - The girl and her mother crossed the border on September 16, 2025.

ABC News - The father learned of the alleged abuse after turning to the courts as a last resort during the five months of custody.

ABC News - The father received appointments for a fingerprinting background check, a home visit, and a DNA test in February 2026.

WHY:

ABC News - President Trump's administration implemented new rules and procedures targeting detained immigrant children, leading to increased detention times.

ABC News - The father expressed that if the government had acted faster, the abuse might not have occurred.

HOW:

ABC News - The father’s attempts to reunite with his daughter were stalled due to the government’s inability to schedule a fingerprint appointment.

ABC News - The father filed a habeas petition in federal court, which led to the girl’s release two days later.

ABC News - The girl underwent a forensic exam and interview regarding the abuse allegations.

(UPDATED April 5, 2026 15:05 UTC)

A lawsuit has been filed involving a 3-year-old girl who allegedly suffered sexual abuse while in federal custody, with her father, a legal permanent resident, and her mother also named in the case. The girl and her mother crossed the U.S.-Mexico border near El Paso September 16thth, 2025, and after five months of fighting for her release, the father learned of the alleged abuse and filed a habeas petition, resulting in her release just two days later. Legal advocates have raised concerns about the increased average custody time for children in the care of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, which has surged from 37 days in January 20th25 to nearly 200 days in February 20th26.