California judge awards over $1 million to 2 U.S. citizen children held in CBP custody
A federal judge in California awarded over $1 million to two child siblings who were held by Customs and Border Protection in 2019 even though they are U.S. citizens, court records show.
A federal judge in California awarded over $1 million to two child siblings who were held by Customs and Border Protection in 2019 even though they are U.S. citizens, court records show.
Most of that amount went to the sister, then 9, who was held in custody for around 34 hours after she and her 14-year-old brother were stopped while they were using the San Ysidro border crossing from Mexico to California.
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel on Friday awarded $1.1 million to the sister; $175,000 to the brother, who was held for around 14 hours; and $250,000 to their mother, Thelma Medina, records show. The family sued in 2022.
Curiel wrote in his opinion that the children's detention violated the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure.
“The Court therefore concludes that the United States’ conduct was extreme and outrageous,” he wrote. “Nor was any thought given to the probable consequences that holding the Children for 14 and 34 hours would have on them.”
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