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Parents face tougher rules to get immigrant children back

22 of September 2018

In this Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 photo, Adan, a 27-year-old Guatemalan living in south Florida, who did not wish to be further identified, poses for a photo near his home. Immigrant families hoping to reunite with children and teenagers who crossed the border alone are facing an intimidating system that includes submitting fingerprints by all adults in the household where a migrant child will live. Adan followed the process to gain custody of his 17-year-old sister in detention. Now, he wants to leave his apartment. "I feel I need to move to have a sense of security," said the landscaper about ICE knowing where he lives. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee),In this Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 photo, Adan, a 27-year-old Guatemalan living in south Florida, who did not wish to be further identified, poses for a photo near his home. Immigrant families hoping to reunite with children and teenagers who crossed the border alone are facing an intimidating system that includes submitting fingerprints by all adults in the household where a migrant child will live. Adan followed the process to gain custody of his 17-year-old sister in detention. Now, he wants to leave his apartment. "I feel I need to move to have a sense of security," said the landscaper about ICE knowing where he lives. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

MIAMI (AP) — The drama of parents being separated from their children at the border dominated the headlines this summer. But thousands of immigrant families are experiencing a similar frustration with new hurdles to take custody of sons, daughters and relatives who crossed the border on their own.

The Trump administration has imposed more stringent rules and vetting for family members to get these children back as part of an across-the-board hardening of immigration policy.

As a result, family members are struggling to comply with the new requirement, keeping children in detention longer and helping the number of migrant kids in government custody soar to the highest levels ever.

Federal officials insist the policies are about ensuring the safety of children.