Confusion over fate of detained children

The US Justice Department has formally asked a federal judge to change the rules on detaining families caught at the border.

Lawyers yesterday filed a memorandum to a class settlement that governs how children are handled when they are caught crossing the US border illegally.

The Flores settlement states families cannot be detained longer than 20 days.

The move is aimed at stopping the separation of children from their families amid a new policy where anyone caught crossing the border is charged criminally.

President Donald Trump has signed an order stopping the practice that has resulted in the separation of more than 2,300 children from their families and sparked global condemnation. Homeland Security officials will detain families together.

Concerns remain the changes do not go far enough, with no detail over what will happen with the children already separated from their parents.