What is happening at the border?

In April, attorney general Jeff Sessions announced that the administration would begin pursuing a “zero-tolerance” policy towards adults who illegally cross the border.

“If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law,” Mr Sessions said in announcing the new policy. “If you don’t like that, then don’t smuggle children over our border.”

Thanks to a 1997 court settlement, legal precedent dictates that children must be detained in the least restrictive setting possible while cases are processed. A subsequent ruling found that rule applies to both unaccompanied minors - those who cross alone - and those who cross with their parents.

Under those guidelines, children who cross the border fall under the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy, in mandating prosecutions and putting parents into criminal proceedings, splits families.

“I don’t want children taken away from parents, and when you prosecute the parents for coming in illegally - which should happen - you have to take the children away”, Mr Trump said during a speech this week.