DOJ announced a 'zero tolerance' policy to criminally prosecute all adults crossing the border illegally, resulting in the separation of children from their parents. Trump signed an EO halting separations on June 20, 2018 amid bipartisan outcry.
Implemented through DOJ/DHS directives in spring 2018; reversed by executive order under public and legal pressure.
Negative impactsubstantiated
More than 5,500 children, including infants, were separated from their families.
DHS Inspector General and government records documented separations; nearly 3,000 occurred before the June 20 reversal, with thousands more identified later.
Negative impactsubstantiated
The government lacked systems to reunify families.
OIG and court records found agencies had no adequate tracking technology, leaving many families separated for extended periods.
Positive impactcontested
Administration argued it was needed to deter illegal crossings.
Officials framed prosecution as enforcing existing law; deterrence effects were disputed and the policy was abandoned.