Sessions announces zero tolerance policy, separating more than 5,500 children from parents

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a Zero Tolerance policy directing federal prosecutors to criminally charge all adults apprehended crossing the southern border without authorization. Because children cannot be held in criminal detention with adults, Border Patrol separated more than 5,500 children from their parents — including infants — and sent many to shelters hundreds or thousands of miles away. Internal DHS documents showed officials knew the policy would separate families before implementing it.