The Department of Homeland Security is appealing a federal court ruling that orders the government to quickly release immigrant children from family detention centers.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh C. Johnson said in a statement Friday that officials are taking steps to comply with the order by U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee but disagree with portions of her decision.
He did not specify which portions.
Federal court records show a notice of appeal was filed Friday.
Gee ruled that the government was in breach of a longstanding legal agreement stipulating that immigrant children cannot be held in secured facilities that aren't licensed to care for children.
Johnson says officials have been turning family detention centers into processing centers for interviews and screenings instead of long-term detention.
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