Two families filed a class-action lawsuit Thursday against New York City, alleging the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) improperly uses emergency removal powers to take children from parents without obtaining court orders.

The lawsuit claims the practice disproportionately affects Black and Latino families. Under current policy, ACS can remove children using "emergency removal" authority, which is intended for extreme situations where there is insufficient time to seek judicial approval.

The plaintiffs argue that ACS has established a discriminatory emergency removal policy that allows the agency to circumvent judicial review. According to the lawsuit, this practice separates parents from their children and can cause lasting damage to affected families.

Emergency removal powers are designed as a last resort for child welfare agencies when immediate action is necessary to protect children from imminent harm. The lawsuit challenges whether the city is applying these powers appropriately and fairly across different racial and ethnic groups.

The case seeks to represent a broader class of families who allege they have been subjected to similar treatment by ACS. The lawsuit aims to address what the plaintiffs characterize as systemic discrimination in the city's child welfare system.