Mark Betancourt

The minors have been living in the U.S.

for months or even years.

They were initially detained at the U.S.-Mexico border and then released to live with family or other sponsors.

As the Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement, the kids were arrested again.

That's according to the lawsuit filed by the National Center for Youth Law.

Michonne Rowe, one of the attorneys in the case, says the government is requiring families to apply again to get their children out of detention.

She says that's illegal.

The Department of Health and Human Services says it does not comment on ongoing litigation.

For NPR News, I'm Mark Betancourt.