WORSE AND WORSE

Detention of Migrant Children Hits Highest Levels Ever

There's a total of 12,800 kids in custody this month.

New data shows the number of migrant children in U.S. government custody this month has reached 12,800—the highest number ever. Although hundreds of children separated from their families after crossing the border were released under court order, the figures are still so high that the federal shelter system is nearly at capacity, The New York Times reports. The data reveals there’s not been an increase in the number of unaccompanied children trying to enter the U.S., but there has been a reduction in the number being released to live with families and sponsors in the U.S. Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to discourage Central American migrants, roughly the same number of children are crossing the border as before. Shelter capacities have been at around 90 percent since May. A surge in border crossings could overwhelm the system, operators told the Times.