The Denver Gazette

Biden administration highlights reunification of families at border

BY VIRGINIA AABRAM The Washington Examiner

As the Biden administration revamps the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy, the Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the 284 children it has reunited with their families after they were caught illegally crossing the southern border.

At least 284 children have been reunited with their parents since September through a Biden administration program aimed at reversing the effects of the family separation policy.

The DHS sought to increase awareness of the program Monday — the same day President Joe Biden restarted the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires people caught crossing the border illegally to stay in Mexico while awaiting hearings instead of being released in the United States.

The DHS program includes websites in English and Spanish where families can register to be reunited in the U.S. free of charge, and most of the 284 children are from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Brazil, or Venezuela.

Eligible families must have been separated at the southern border between Jan. 20, 2017, and Jan. 20, 2020, or the length of former President Donald Trump’s time in office.

This policy, which was enacted to avoid prosecuting minors, resulted in over 5,500 children being separated. Since then, thousands have been reunited, though nearly 1,500 children remain separated.

NATIONAL POLITICS

en-us

2021-12-07T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-07T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://daily.denvergazette.com/article/281728387809242

The Gazette, Colorado Springs