But the recent surge in families trying to cross the border suggests children are being separated from relatives much more frequently, and because of systemic delays, they are held without caregivers longer. Minors are supposed to be transferred from Border Patrol custody within 72 hours and are then kept at a government-run shelter until a sponsor is identified and they are released. The government has not said how many children have been separated from their extended families at the border, but some data presents a window into the regularity with which it occurs. But those numbers would include extended family who initially claimed to be parents. The law was developed in part because U.S. Border Patrol agents aren't trained to determine whether someone is truly a relative and a decent caregiver or an ill-intentioned trafficker posing as one.

Source: Economic Times July 02, 2019 20:03 UTC