A judge ruled on Monday the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement violated federal law when agents arrested a 16-year-old during a mandatory check-in.

The teenager has a special immigrant juvenile status, which is a protection meant to shield children who were abused, neglected or abandoned.

“Well, I feel happy. I was a little nervous, but now I feel better than happy,” Joel said.

The 16-year-old is being identified only by his first name because he’s a minor with special immigration protection status.

“I felt a little worried. It was [a] room when they arrested me. It was a room that [had only] cement chairs, and there was nothing else. I was there for seven hours,” Joel said.

His attorney says what happened to Joel is part of a pattern, one affecting hundreds of children across t

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