DHS: 2,342 kids separated from adults at the border over five-week period

More than 2,000 adults who attempted to illegally enter the U.S. from Mexico between ports of entry have been referred by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to the Justice Department for prosecution, forcing about the same number of children to be taken into federal custody, a Homeland Security Department official told reporters Tuesday.

Exactly 4,548 individuals came to the border as part of 2,235 family units and were apprehended between May 5 and June 9. The number of adults referred for prosecution was 2,206, resulting in 2,342 children being turned over to the Health and Human Services Department within 72 hours.