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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US 'may split families that cross border' | US 'may split families that cross border' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US is thinking about separating children from their parents if caught illegally crossing the Mexico border. | The US is thinking about separating children from their parents if caught illegally crossing the Mexico border. |
| Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told CNN the move would be an attempt at stopping families from making the perilous journey from Central America. | Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told CNN the move would be an attempt at stopping families from making the perilous journey from Central America. |
| Tens of thousands of parents and children, many who are fleeing violence in Honduras and El Salvador, have been detained coming across the border. | Tens of thousands of parents and children, many who are fleeing violence in Honduras and El Salvador, have been detained coming across the border. |
| It can take years for their fate to be decided by the courts. | It can take years for their fate to be decided by the courts. |
| Media reports on Friday suggested the new policy would mean parents being kept in custody while they go through the legal or deportation process. | Media reports on Friday suggested the new policy would mean parents being kept in custody while they go through the legal or deportation process. |
| But their children would be looked after by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) until they can be taken into the care of an American relative or a state-vetted guardian. | |
| When asked about these media reports on Monday, Mr Kelly said: "Yes, I am considering - in order to deter more movement along this terribly dangerous network - I am considering exactly that. | When asked about these media reports on Monday, Mr Kelly said: "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." | "They will be well cared for as we deal with their parents." |
| He would do "almost anything" to deter people from Central America getting on this "very, very dangerous network" and going through Mexico, he said. | He would do "almost anything" to deter people from Central America getting on this "very, very dangerous network" and going through Mexico, he said. |
| Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat who has a district about 200 miles (320 km) from the border, said: "Bottom line: separating mothers and children is wrong. | |
| "That type of thing is where we depart from border security and get into violating human rights." | |
| In 2014, the number of unaccompanied children detained at the border reached crisis levels, with more than 50,000 caught that year. | |
| Three emergency shelters were set up on military bases to house the youngsters, under a 2008 law requiring minors from countries not bordering the US to be handed over to the HHS within 72 hours of being caught by US border officials. | |
| Stories from the US-Mexico border | |
| Border town divided on Trump's wall | |
| The untold story of the Texas-Mexico border |