Source: Immigration Impact
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently found that from April 2018 to May 2019, 2,700 children were separated from their families. However, many cases were not accurately tracked due to inconsistencies in recording case details. GAO reported that “Border Patrol agents inconsistently recorded information about the reasons for and circumstances surrounding family separations on required forms.”
After separation, children are transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A report from the Inspector General (OIG) for HHS revealed that HHS was ill-prepared to properly care for the children because of poor interagency communication and lack of an established system to manage the separations.
The administration’s “zero tolerance” policy on immigration has created a world where “officials [cannot] effectively track families, ensure communication among separated family members, or reunify them.”