The number of children separated from their illegally arrived relatives at the southern border of the USA is much higher than previously indicated by the government. Nearly 3,000 minors have not yet been covered by official statistics, according to a report released yesterday by the US Department of Health.
Previously, the ministry had known only 2,737 migrant children separated from their parents or companions by US President Donald Trump’s „zero tolerance policy.“
Even separations before the last numbers
The previous numbers came from June 2018, when Trump stopped after massive protests enforced separations at the Mexican border. However, thousands of children may have been separated before the 2017 census, the ministry said. In addition, there had been „problems“ in the identification of some children.
The report contradicts earlier statements by the US government that spoke of a systematic approach to enforced separation. For this reason, the opposition Democrats sharply criticized the government. This has „deceived“ the public about its „disgusting“ approach, „said House Representative Bennie Thompson.
