Justice department fights asylum seeker’s lawsuit over separation from her son

After pair was separated for two years, suit shines light on Biden administration's response to separation policy

When Leticia and her 15-year-old son, Yovany, crossed the US-Mexico border six years ago to escape violence in Guatemala, whatever hopes they had for an American dream soon spiraled into a nightmare. Within one day, US immigration authorities had separated the now 37-year-old from her teen boy, leading to a years-long fight for unification.

Leticia and Yovany, who waited more than two years to be reunited, have filed suit in Brooklyn federal court over their separation and detention conditions that could shine light on the shadowy process behind family separation. Leticia and Yovany are pseudonyms used in court filings.