Federal Judge Puts an End to Family Separation at US Border for 8 Years

A federal judge has issued a ruling prohibiting the separation of families at the US border for eight years, effectively blocking the potential resumption of the controversial policy under the Trump administration. The judge described the separation of families as one of the most shameful chapters in US history. The ruling comes as part of a settlement between the Justice Department and families represented by the ACLU, ending a legal challenge that was filed nearly seven years ago. The judge also ordered the government to reunite children with their parents within 30 days. However, there are still 68 children who have not been located. Under the settlement, the "zero-tolerance" policy that led to the separation of over 5,000 children from their parents would be prohibited until December 2031.