Children’s rightsImmigrants’ Rights

Home > Perez-Funez v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Protecting the Rights of Unaccompanied Children

Case Overview

Public Counsel Legal Team

Mark Rosenbaum

Senior Special Counsel for Strategic Litigation

Amanda Mangaser Savage

Strategic Litigation Counsel

Rebecca Brown

Supervising Attorney

Entered in 1985, the permanent injunction in the nationwide class action Perez-Funez requires federal immigration agents to advise unaccompanied children of their rights and, in the case of children from countries other than Mexico or Canda, ensure communication with a parent, close adult relative, friend, or legal services organization. In 2025, the Trump Administration filed a motion to terminate these protections.

Court

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Status

Permanent Injunction

Case No.

2:81-cv-1457

Filed

01/24/1984

Our Co-Counsel

Gilbert Carrasco

Benigno de Hoyos

Charles Wheeler

National Immigration Law Center

Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading advocacy organizations in the U.S. dedicated to advancing and defending the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones.
Working at the intersection of immigrant, economic, and racial justice, NILC deploys a multi-pronged strategy to secure lasting, transformational change. The firm is building an inclusive future for low-income immigrants through impact litigation, policy advocacy, movement-building, and narrative and culture change.

Learn More

Cohen Milstein

Cohen Milstein is one of the largest and most diversified plaintiff-side litigation firms in the country — with over 100 attorneys in offices in Washington, DC, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Palm Beach Gardens, and Raleigh.

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Quinn Emanauel

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is a 1200+ lawyer business litigation firm—the largest in the world devoted solely to business litigation and arbitration.

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Case Developments

filing

11/12/2025

Federal Government Files Motion to Terminate Injunction

The federal government asked the district court to terminate the permanent injunction.

defendantS’ motion to terminate

RULING

09/30/1985

Court Enters Permanent Injunction

The district court declared the federal immigration agency’s original procedures unconstitutional and made permanent its January 24, 1984 preliminary injunction.

order