Families are separated at the US border with uncertain prospects of reunion

What happens

at the border?

Family groups are detained after illegally crossing US border and sent for processing

All adults who cross the border illegally now prosecuted under ‘zero tolerance’ policy

Separation occurs as children cannot be held in adult detention facilities

What happens

to the parents?

What happens

to the children?

Adults await trial in jail - six months is the maximum sentence for first-time illegal entry

Children are forced to await the outcome of criminal cases against their parents

Backlogs mean many sentenced to ‘time served’ when they do get a hearing

They are taken to temporary immigration shelters run by the the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which searches for parents, relatives or family friends to place them with in the US

After serving time, parents are sent to detention facilities run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) where asylum applications and deportation proceedings begin

If no placement is found the children may have to stay in the crowded shelters

Once parents are within ICE detention centres it is theoretically possible for families to be reunited but the mechanism is unclear

What happens

at the border?

Family groups are detained after illegally crossing US border and sent for processing

All adults who cross the border illegally now prosecuted under ‘zero tolerance’ policy

Separation occurs as children cannot be held in adult detention facilities

What happens

to the parents?

What happens

to the children?

Adults await trial in jail - six months is the maximum sentence for first-time illegal entry

Children are forced to await the outcome of criminal cases against their parents

Backlogs mean many sentenced to ‘time served’ when they do get a hearing

They are taken to temporary immigration shelters run by the the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which searches for parents, relatives or family friends to place them with in the US

After serving time, parents are sent to detention facilities run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) where asylum applications and deportation proceedings begin

If no placement is found the children may have to stay in the crowded shelters

Once parents are within ICE detention centres it is theoretically possible for families to be reunited but the mechanism is unclear