Migrant children can not be detained indefinitely in the United States

A California federal judge blocked Friday an attempt by the government of President Donald Trump to reverse an agreement that prevents him from holding indefinitely children residing illegally on the territory of the United States.

Judge Dolly Gee's decision concerns the so-called "de Flores" agreement, which states that the government can not detain migrant children for more than 20 days. The White House attempted to cancel the 22-year-old deal, arguing that it had become obsolete and unsuitable for dealing with the massive influx of migrant families in the United States in recent years.

But for Justice Gee, the administration "simply can not ignore the requirements of just judgment because it no longer agrees with them for political reasons," she wrote.

For the Californian judge, the government representatives did not prove the merits of their claim and could have asked the parliament to adopt measures calling into question the Flores agreement.

"Failure to obtain satisfaction, defendants can not impose their will by promulgating regulations that abrogate the most fundamental principles" of the Flores agreement, "this violates the rule of law and this court can not allow it Says Dolly Gee.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said the administration was "disappointed" by this decision and would continue to work "to restore the integrity of our immigration system."

The lawsuit was triggered by twenty US states challenging the government's decision to repeal the current system.

President Trump has made the fight against illegal immigration a key part of his campaign in 2016.

Last year, he put in place a migration policy that had resulted in the separation of more than 2,300 migrant children from their parents, causing much controversy, before ending it.