Amnesty International on Monday tore into the Trump administration's controversial policy of separating children from their parents when migrant families illegally cross the border, calling it "nothing short of torture."

"This is a spectacularly cruel policy, where frightened children are being ripped from their parent’s arms and taken to overflowing detention centers, which are effectively cages," the human rights organization said in a statement.

"This is nothing short of torture. The severe mental suffering that officials have intentionally inflicted on these families for coercive purposes, means that these acts meet the definitions of torture under both US and international law," the statement added.

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President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE on Monday doubled down in defending his administration's so-called zero tolerance policy, which was announced in April by the Justice Department. As part of the practice, children are separated from parents and placed in detention facilities while the adults are prosecuted for illegally entering the country.

The practice has sparked bipartisan backlash, with GOP Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsClub for Growth to spend million in ads for Trump Supreme Court nominee Maryland's GOP governor says Republicans shouldn't rush SCOTUS vote before election The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November MORE (Maine) blasting the policy as “inconsistent” with American values on Sunday while Sen. Jeff Merkley Jeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Sunday shows - Trump team defends coronavirus response Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE (D-Ore.) led a group of lawmakers to the southern border in Texas to tour the U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing centers and seek more information about how the agency processing detained migrants.

“The United States will not be a migrant camp and it will not be a refugee holding facility — it won’t be,” Trump said at the White House during a meeting for his space council on Monday, adding, “Not on my watch."

Trump also sent a series of tweets earlier on Monday calling on Congress to change immigration laws to end it.

“Children are being used by some of the worst criminals on earth as a means to enter our country,” Trump said. “Has anyone been looking at the Crime taking place south of the border. It is historic, with some countries the most dangerous places in the world. Not going to happen in the U.S.”

“It is the Democrats fault for being weak and ineffective with Border Security and Crime. Tell them to start thinking about the people devastated by Crime coming from illegal immigration. Change the laws!” he said in another tweet.

Children are being used by some of the worst criminals on earth as a means to enter our country. Has anyone been looking at the Crime taking place south of the border. It is historic, with some countries the most dangerous places in the world. Not going to happen in the U.S. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018