The Trump administration is reversing a controversial policy that required extensive background checks of all adults living with sponsors of migrant children, in a move that could lead to faster release of migrant minors from shelters. The number of immigrant children in government-run shelters has ballooned to a record 14,700 as of Dec. 17, according to HHS. The government makes lousy parents," said Lynn Johnson, Assistant Secretary at Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families told NPR. Advocates have pointed to delays in fingerprint processing as a reason so many children are currently in US government custody. Another reason, they say, is that information about potential sponsors is now shared with the Department of Homeland Security, which enforces immigration law.

Source: dna December 19, 2018 00:33 UTC