Trump weighing separation of women, children at Mexico border — report

US President Donald Trump and his administration are weighing a border policy shift that would see women and their children separated when caught crossing illegally into the United States, under a proposal by the Department of Homeland Security.

According to Reuters, citing three government officials, part of the reason for the proposal is to deter mothers from migrating to the US with their children. This is mainly aimed at people crossing in from Mexico, either from that country or from Central America

The new proposal would allow border authorities to detain parents while they contest deportation or wait for asylum hearings and place the children in protective care with the Department of Health and Human Services, in the “least restrictive setting,” until they can be released to a US relative or a guardian.

Minding a federal appeals court ruling from July 2016 barring prolonged child detentions, families crossing into the US and contesting deportation or asking for asylum are generally released quickly and are allowed to remain in the US while awaiting proceedings.

Trump has been a sharp critic of the unofficial “catch and release” policy largely followed by immigration officials by which migrants who are caught crossing illegally are freed after brief detainment and allowed to live on US soil while their cases are considered.

According to Reuters, approximately 54,000 children and their guardians were apprehended by border authorities between October 1, 2016, and Jan. 31, 2017.

During his campaign and since his election, Trump has vowed to build a wall along the Mexico border to stop the flow of illegal migration.

Trump also approved new guidelines aimed at aggressively detaining and deporting immigrants by increasing the number of federal agents and strengthening cooperation with local law enforcement.

AP contributed to this report.