MIAMI (AP) — President Donald Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy split more than 5,000 children from their families at the Mexico border during his first term.
Border crossings sit at a record low nearly a year into his second administration, yet a new wave of immigration enforcement is dividing families inside the U.S.
Federal officials and local partners are detaining thousands of asylum-seekers. Detainees are moved repeatedly, held in poor conditions, or deported.
The Biden administration claims a focus on compassion, yet families continue to face separation under current policies.
A family divided between Florida and Venezuela
Antonio Laverde left Venezuela for the U.S. in 2022, requesting asylum. His wife and children followed him but were met with challenges after his arrest.
Yaoska’s family, fleeing Nicaragua due to political persecution, faced heartbreak as her husband was detained during an ICE appointment, highlighting ongoing risks associated with immigration policy.
Each family's story reveals deep emotional impacts on children left behind, demonstrating a crisis that continues to evolve under new leadership while echoing past policies.
