World

Trump signs order to 'keep families together'

June 20, 2018 4:06 pm

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order promising to “keep families together”, but migrants will still be detained at the border.

He said he had been swayed by pictures of children who have been taken from parents while they are jailed and prosecuted for illegal border-crossing.

The new order comes amid domestic and international fury over the separation of undocumented parents and children.

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Mr Trump had earlier urged lawmakers to pass a bill ending family separations.

He also wants immigration laws to be toughened under any such legislation.

“It’s about keeping families together,” Mr Trump said at the signing ceremony on Wednesday.

“I did not like the sight of families being separated,” he said, but added the administration would continue its “zero tolerance policy”.

The executive order states that immigrant families will be detained together, except in cases where there are concerns about the child’s welfare, but it is unclear for how long.