Jun 15, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Almost 2,000 migrant children have been separated from their parents

A young child in a crowd protesting the Trump administration's family separation policies at the border

Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

As of the end of May, 1,995 children have been separated from 1,940 parents since Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the “zero-tolerance” policy at the southern border, according to DHS data obtained by the Associated Press.

Why it matters: The family separation policy has sparked widespread outrage among lawmakers, children advocates, church groups, the U.N. and the public. President Trump said Friday morning on the matter, "I hate it. I hate to see separation of children and their parents," blaming Democrats for the situation. However, the decision to prosecute parents who are caught crossing the border illegally stems from the Trump administration.

Go deeper: How Trump can separate migrant families

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