Health and Human Services officials told reporters Tuesday that they are prioritizing the reunification of the 2,047 children they have in custody who were separated from their families due to the Trump administration’s zero tolerance enforcement policy at the border.
“We are prioritizing our effort now on the reunification of the children that we have now,” said Jonathan White, HHS’ assistant secretary for preparedness and response, on the call with reporters. “HHS responsibility is to determine whether or not a sponsor is a safe place for a child to go.”
HHS Secretary Alex Azar told the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday that so far, 247 children have been reunited or placed with a family member or friend. But Azar told senators Tuesday that children could not be reunited with parents who remain in federal custody.
President Trump issued an executive order last week to end the policy of separating immigrant children from their parents while their parents are being prosecuted for illegally entering the country. Officials seem to have achieved that goal by temporarily ending the practice of referring adult illegal immigrants for prosecution if they arrive with children.
While that change took place immediately, HHS officials declined to comment when asked if there was any chance more kids might be sent to HHS facilities.
President Trump has said the law needs to change before he can detain and prosecute illegal immigrant adults without splitting up families, due to a court settlement that says illegal immigrant children can only be held for 20 days.
HHS officials said that they are looking to connect unaccompanied minors with a family member or a sponsor after undergoing a background check.
The agency’s Office of Refugee Resettlement has more than 11,000 illegal immigrant children in their custody, most of whom showed up on their own, without a parent or guardian.
Republicans in Congress are still trying to pass legislation to allow for the prosecution of adults without having to separate families in legislation that could get a vote this week.
