Domestic laws and policies in Ethiopia do not explicitly prohibit the detention of children for immigration-related reasons. The immigration proclamation grants immigration officers the authority to detain children for investigation if they are found to be entering or departing from Ethiopia without complying with the stipulated requirements, such as possessing valid travel documents or being accompanied by a responsible person.

Article 3(3(a&b)) of the immigration proclamation outlines the requirements for the entry of foreign minors into Ethiopia, including the necessity of possessing valid travel documents and being accompanied by a responsible individual if traveling alone. Failure to meet these requirements can result in immigration-related detention for the minor, as per Article 16(2(c)) of the proclamation, which empowers immigration officers to detain individuals for investigation if they are in violation of the immigration laws or regulations.