U.S. to crack down on child smuggling

SAN FRANCISCO — The Trump administration said Friday it will begin arresting parents and others who hire smugglers to bring their children into the U.S.

The new “surge initiative” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement marks the latest get-tough approach to immigration by the federal government since President Donald Trump took office. The government says the effort aims to break up human smuggling operations, including arresting people who pay smugglers to get children across the U.S. border.

“The sponsors who have placed children directly into harm’s way by entrusting them to violent criminal organizations will be held accountable” said agency spokesman Sarah Rodriguez.

Children whose sponsors are arrested will be placed with another verified relative or guardian, or under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the federal agency that takes custody of unaccompanied minors, Rodriguez said.