Q&A on the News

Q: When and how did the policy of separating children and parents who are entering the country illegally begin? What happens with the children? Are they deported back with their parents? RICHARD CRISWELL, MONROE

A: The “zero tolerance” immigration enforcement policy announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions on April 6 resulted in separating children and parents at the border. The policy, which the Trump administration formally ended June 20, applied to all adults entering the country illegally, including parents attempting to enter with their children, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security fact sheet.

The children were first brought to U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities, according to media reports, and then sent to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement shelters and temporary facilities. The next step was for the children to be hosted by a foster family or by family members living in the U.S., according to information from Customs and Border Protection.

Depending on the case’s result, children would either join their parents to live in the U.S. or the family would be returned to their home country. The New York Times reported on June 17, however, that some parents were being deported without their children, citing immigration attorneys.

As of June 20, HHS reported that 2,053 separated minors were being held in its facilities. The Trump administration promised to detain families together, while still committing to its zero tolerance stance on illegal immigration, according to the June 20 executive order.

Q&A on the News runs Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Dillon Thompson of Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).