President Donald Trump knew he didn't like a 1997 immigration ruling, but apparently didn't realize that the namesake of the Flores court case was a 15-year-old girl, not a federal judge.

"Judge Flores, whoever you may be, that decision is a disaster for our country," Trump said during his visit with border officials in Calexico, California, on Friday.

Jenny Lisette Flores, who fled war-torn El Salvador in the 1980s, was the lead plaintiff in a legal challenge to the U.S. government's treatment of suspected illegal immigrants.

The case, known as the Flores Settlement or more properly known as Flores v. Reno, established the treatment of immigrant families and children in federal custody.

The case was settled in 1997. One of its central provisions was a ruling that the government cannot hold children in detention centers for more than 20 days.

Trump views that stricture as effectively releasing illegal immigrants, though they are typically subject to future court appearances.

The case bounced around from a California federal court to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court and back before a settlement ended the matter. The settlement involved the Justice Department under then-President Bill Clinton and then-Attorney General Janet Reno.

Reach the reporter Ronald J. Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4493. Follow him on Twitter @ronaldjhansen.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.