Children still not reunited with parents
WASHINGTON: More than 700 children separated at the United States border remain in US Government custody, despite a courtordered deadline to reunite them with their families elapsing.
The Government yesterday told a court it viewed itself as having met the deadline, because the remaining families were not deemed eligible for reunification. In previous instances, this included cases where parents were seen as risky or had serious criminal records.
CNN reported on court filings by the Government showing it had reunited 1442 families with children aged 5 and older, while an additional 378 children were released under ‘‘appropriate circumstances’’.
Some of the unaccounted for parents may have already been deported from the US.
The separation of parents was part of a US Government policy to deter illegal immigration over the US Mexico border, but the plan was revoked after it drew a massive public outcry and legal challenges.
US President Donald Trump made cracking down on illegal immigration a key part of his 2016 election campaign and he has tried to follow through while in office.
However, Trump has been unable to pass legislation, despite his centreright Republican Party controlling both houses of Congress. — DPA