"They will be well cared for as we deal with their parents," Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Monday. | AP Photo Kelly confirms he's considering program to separate migrant children and parents

Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly confirmed Monday that the Trump administration is considering separating migrant parents from their children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border together illegally.

Speaking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer late Monday afternoon, Kelly confirmed the gist of a recent Reuters report , saying that he is “considering exactly that” as a way to deter people from Central America from traveling up through Mexico with the goal of entering the U.S.


“If you get some young kids who manage to sneak into the United States with their parents, are Department of Homeland Security personnel going to separate the children from their moms and dads?” Blitzer asked.

“We have tremendous experience in dealing with unaccompanied minors,” Kelly responded. “We turn them over to HHS, and they do a very, very good job of either putting them in kind of foster care or linking them up with parents or family members in the United States.”

He continued: “Yes, I am considering, in order to deter more movement along this terribly dangerous network, I am considering exactly that. They will be well cared for as we deal with their parents.”

President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to take a hard line on illegal immigration. But Kelly’s statement is likely to prompt a rebuke from Democrats and immigrant rights advocates. Responding to Reuters’ initial report on the plan, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, released a strongly worded statement.

“Bottom line: separating mothers and children is wrong,” Cuellar said, according to Reuters. “That type of thing is where we depart from border security and get into violating human rights.”

