Story highlights The proposal is meant to deter the exploitation of children, a DHS official said

The adults could be kept in detention, and the children could be moved elsewhere under protected status

(CNN) The Department of Homeland Security is considering a proposal to separate children from adults when they are trying to enter the country illegally at the southern border, a senior DHS official confirmed to CNN on Friday.

The official said the proposal is meant to deter the exploitation of children.

"We are trying to find ways to deter the use of children in illegal immigration," he said. "We are seeing kids essentially kidnapped and used to get here and stay."

Currently, when adults enter the country accompanied by children, they are generally released into the US and able to stay in the country, pending disposition of their cases, the official said.

The proposal would allow US immigration officials to separate children from the adults they came here with. The adults could be kept in detention, and the children could be moved elsewhere under protected status, possibly with family members already in the country or to state protective custody, such as child protective services.

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