Only 38 “tender age” children reunited by deadline
Only 38 of the 102 “tender age” children, or children under the age of 5, have been reunited by the July 10 court-ordered deadline.
According to BBC, U.S. Officials say “legitimate logistical impediments” are causing the delay for many of the children.
According to a joint status report from the Department of Justice and the ACLU, 27 of the children can’t be reunited for various reasons.
Ten of the children have parents who are still in criminal custody as they are being processed for crossing the border illegally.
Eight of the children’s parents have a “serious criminal history” including murder, robbery, narcotics and human trafficking.
Two children may face a possible threat of child abuse if reunited with their parents.
Five of the children crossed with adults who were not their parents.
And one child’s parent is being treated for a medical illness.
Additionally, 12 children cannot be reunited with their parents because the parents have already been deported.
Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services sees what HHS is doing for the children as life-saving.
“We’ve saved kids’ lives by keeping them from being with some really evil people some of them are keeping them with people who are not their parents,” Azar said. “[By] keeping them with people that a kid accused of being a child abuser.”
However, Democratic leaders aren’t as pleased with the progress.
“If the government cannot reunite just these 102 children,” Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas said, “it’s inconceivable that they will reunite the nearly 2,900 by the end of the month as ordered by the court.”
President Donald Trump responded to criticism with a solution of his own.
“Tell people not to come to our country illegally,” the president said. “That’s the solution. Don’t come to our country illegally. Come like other people do. Come legally.”
