European legal and policy framework on immigration detention of children Figure 6: Detention of unaccompanied children in return procedures Forbidden by law Allowed by law Note: In Germany, the situation differs from one Land (state) to another. Source: FRA, 2017 (based on sources listed in Annex 1) The situation has remained relatively unchanged over the last seven years since FRA’s publication Detention of third-country nationals in return procedures. In 2010, nine EU Member States directly or indirectly banned pre-removal detention of unaccompanied children.108 • Bulgaria abolished child detention in the pre-removal context in 2013.109 • In Slovenia, the Constitutional Court clarified that the restriction of liberty at the Aliens Centre (Center za tujce), where unaccompanied children are usually 108 FRA (2010), Detention of third-country nationals in return procedures, Luxembourg, Publications Office, pp. 58–60. 109 Bulgaria, Law of Foreigners (Закон за изменение и допълнение на Закона за чужденците в Република България), 8 March 2013, Article 26 amending Article 44 (9) on the Law of Foreigners (Закон за чужденците). 38 placed, is of such a degree that it amounts to deprivation of liberty.110 • In Portugal, provisions requiring child-specific standards continue to be interpreted as prohibiting the detention of unaccompanied children.111 • In Germany, the possibility of detaining unaccompanied children pending removal depends on the different regional provisions. For example, Lower 110 Slovenia, Constitutional Court (Ustavno sodišče), Case Up-1116/09–22, 3 March 2011. 111 Portugal, Act on the legal regime of entry, permanence, exit and removal of foreigners from national territory (Lei que aprova o regime jurídico de entrada, permanência, saída e afastamento de estrangeiros do território nacional), Article 146 (1) read together with Article 146A (3).