(CNN) Since the Trump administration announced it would end its practice of separating undocumented families in June under its "zero tolerance" immigration policy, 81 children have been separated from family members after being apprehended at the southern border, according to Department of Homeland Security numbers released Thursday.

DHS says the separations occurred due to criminal activity or gang affiliation by the adults, or hospitalization. At least 20 adults were separated because of prosecution for "other reasons" that were unclear from the data.

Of the separations, which span from June 21 through November 30, there were 81 children and 76 adults separated from their family members.

In a statement released Thursday, DHS spokeswoman Katie Waldman said, "As we have already said -- and the numbers show: separations are rare. While there was a brief increase during zero tolerance as more adults were prosecuted, the numbers have returned to their prior levels. However, the numbers we have recently compiled show unequivocally that smugglers, human traffickers, and nefarious actors are attempting to use hundreds of children to exploit our immigration laws in hopes of gaining entry to the United States."

DHS provided no evidence to support the allegation that children were being used to gain entry to the US.

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