Biden administration threatens to sue over Texas' bid to evict migrant children from state shelters

The Biden administration on Monday said it is ready to sue Texas if its Republican governor moves forward with plans to force shelters in the state to stop housing migrant children in federal custody.

In a disaster declaration issued on Memorial Day, Governor Greg Abbott directed state officials to discontinue the licensing of shelters and foster care programs in Texas housing migrant minors in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is charged with housing children who cross the southern border without their parents. Following Abbott's directive, Texas authorities instructed 52 state-licensed shelters and foster care programs serving migrant children to wind down operations by August 30. Those facilities can collectively house more than 8,600 migrant children, according to state data.