$1.5 Million Awarded to Family: Judge Condemns Border Patrol’s Treatment of 9-Year-Old Girl and Brother at San Diego Border Crossing!

Federal Judge Awards $1.5 Million to Family Wrongfully Detained at U.S.-Mexico Border

Judge Criticizes Border Patrol Tactics in Detention of Children at Tijuana-San Ysidro Crossing

According to Court House News, a federal judge in San Diego has awarded the Amparo Medina family over $1.5 million in damages following an incident at the Tijuana-San Ysidro border crossing in March 2019. The case involved Julia Isabel Amparo then 9 years old and her 14-year-old brother Oscar Amparo Medina who was detained by U.S. border patrol officers. Despite their mother providing valid birth certificates and social security cards the children were held for hours under suspicion of false identity. Judge Gonzalo Curiel criticized the officers for not following proper procedures and for subjecting the children to unreasonable interrogations and threats during their detention.

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$1.5 Million Awarded to Family: Judge Condemns Border Patrol’s Treatment of 9-Year-Old Girl and Brother at San Diego Border Crossing! (PHOTO: LatinaWatch)

Judge Condemns Border Patrol’s Handling of Minors at U.S.-Mexico Border Crossing

Court documents reveal that the border patrol officers suspected Julia of using a fraudulent passport card prompting their detention. Despite lacking evidence the officers prolonged the children’s detention without conducting a thorough investigation. This prolonged period of uncertainty caused significant psychological distress to Julia and Oscar ultimately leading to coerced false confessions. Judge Curiel condemned the officers’ actions as unconstitutional highlighting their failure to uphold the Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights of the children.

The court decision highlights broader concerns about how minors are treated and the accountability of law enforcement at U.S. border crossings. Attorney Joseph McMullen emphasized the need to hold border patrol officers responsible for their actions particularly when dealing with vulnerable individuals like children. Judge Curiel’s ruling underscores the importance of upholding legal standards and safeguarding constitutional rights especially in cases involving minors who are more vulnerable to the consequences of mishandled enforcement actions.

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