By Kevin Deutsch
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Families separated at the southern border under the administration of Donald Trump could be reunited and may be permitted to stay in the U.S., the Biden administration announced Monday.
“We are hoping to reunite the families, either here or in their country of origin,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters at a press briefing. “We hope to be in a position to give them the election. And if, in fact they seek to reunite here in the United States, we will explore lawful pathways for them to remain in the United States, and to address the family needs,”
“We are acting as restoratively as possible.”
The Trump administration’s family separation policy led to roughly 2,800 families being separated at the southern border, fueling criticism from human rights groups across the globe.
Some were later reunited, but 550 separated children remained without their parents when Trump’s presidency ended.
A family reunification task force established by Biden has reunited 105 families so far, authorities said.
Once brought together, the families may be permitted to remain in the country, authorities said.