The internet has been in uproar over shocking images of immigrant children forced to sleep on the floor in metal 'cages' by ICE - without realizing the images are actually four years old.

Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau, former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and several high profile journalists, including NYT Mag's editor-in-chief Jake Silverstein, were quick to condemn the photos which reemerged on social media over the weekend.

Favreau warned that 'the only debate that matters', after seeing those photos, was 'how we force our government to get these kids back to their families as fast as humanly possible.'

The internet has been in uproar over shocking - yer historic - images of immigrant children forced to sleep on the floor in metal 'cages' by ICE.

One picture showed dozens of children sleeping under small pieces of foil, in a large room, surrounded by metal fences

'Speechless, this is not who we are as a nation,' added Villaraigosa.

While activist and Intercept columnist Shaun King tweeted that it was an 'abomination' adding that children were 'being held in cages, like dogs.'

The photos showed pictures of young children, separated from their parents, and forced to sleep on mats on the floor at two separate detention centers in Brownsville and Nogales, Texas.

One picture showed dozens of children sleeping under small pieces of foil, in a large room, surrounded by metal fences. There appears to be no toys or books for entertain the young children who had been separated form their families.

Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau was among the many to condemn the photos - without realizing they dated back to 2014

Activist and Intercept columnist Shaun King tweeted that it was an 'abomination'

'Speechless, this is not who we are as a nation,' added former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Linda Sarsour, Women’s March co-founder, also shared her outrage on Twitter

In another, two young children were seen lying next to each other, next to the metal fence.

The images were shared thousands of times on Twitter by concerned citizens.

But today saw an embarrassing climb down from the outrage of yesterday, as people realized the images actually date from 2014, under the former administration - although it still reveals some of the shocking conditions ICE detainees have been forced to endure by ICE, (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Silverstein tweeted a correction, confirming the pictures were from 2014.

'Still disturbing, of course, but only indirectly related to current situation,' he tweeted. My bad (and a good reminder not to RT things while distracted w family on the weekend).'

CNN's Hadas Gold deleted her original comment and tweeted: 'Deleted previous tweet because gave impression of recent photos (they're from 2014)'

Silverstein also tweeted a correction, confirming the pictures were from 2014

CNN's Hadas Gold deleted her original comment and tweeted: 'Deleted previous tweet because gave impression of recent photos (they're from 2014)'.

Many others simply deleted their original tweets without comment.

Some Republicans have been mocking liberals for the error, pointing out that the conditions were took place under Barack Obama's administration.

The photos circulated following reports that Trump is changing the way immigrant families are processed by ICE. In the past, parents and children who crossed the border together, would be processed together in immigration court.

But the Trump administration has instituted a new policy that allows ICE to criminally prosecute adult family members, while releasing their children - splitting families. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit claiming it violates the US Constitution.

Regardless of political affiliations, the flurry of shares and outraged tweets over the old pictures should be a reminder that - however good one's intention - it's always worth double checking before sharing news on social media.