Texas Blocked From Licensing Immigration Facilities Housing Children As Child Care Facilities

On December 2, 2016, a Texas District Court judge invalidated a state regulation about licensing immigration family residential detention centers (FRCs). The original regulations allowed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to issue child care facility licenses for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracted FRCs. The court ruling blocks this regulation, and prevents that licensure category.

In the decision, the judge said the DFPS regulations, which were less stringent than for other residential child care facilities, were counter to existing state law. The ruling was in response to a complaint filed by Grassroots Leadership, Inc. in March . . .