It looks like most Central American migrant families entering the US have no idea that their childre

GRACE PANETTA
JUN 20, 2018, 12.43 AM

The Trump administration has described the "zero-tolerance" policy of separating families who arrive at the border together as a deterrent to prevent people from attempting to either seek asylum or immigrate illegally from Central America.

But lawyers, advocates, and families who have been separated say that most who arrive at the US border have no idea their children could be taken from them.

Before the "zero-tolerance" policy went into effect in April, it was very rare for families who arrived at the border together to be prosecuted at all, especially if they were applying for asylum, public defenders told The Washington Post. This was especially true for first-time border crossers.

But with the Trump administration's recent crackdown on illegal immigration, the court system in border areas is becoming overwhelmed and backlogged with the new addition of parents being charged with illegal entry in droves. A public defender in McAllen, Texas told The Post that number of illegal entry cases in McAllen has now soared to 1,000 per week.

More:
https://www.businessinsider.in/it-looks-like-most-central-american-migrant-families-entering-the-us-have-no-idea-that-their-children-could-be-taken-from-them/articleshow/64655293.cms

Editorials and other articles:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016208761