U.S. Border Officials Temporarily Suspended Separating Families.

With detention centers packed and resources running thin, United States (U.S.) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials announced that they will temporarily stop separating families illegally crossing the border.

According to the New York Times, border officials have decided to re-adopt the “catch and release” immigration policy, established during the Obama administration, until negotiations in Congress can yield a better solution. CPB Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan stated that the influx of immigration has left little room for additional detainees. Families will be quickly released on the condition that they return for their scheduled court hearing afterwards.

The policy excludes adults without children and officials say they will continue detaining children who are in danger or whose parent have criminal records. McAleenan noted that if detention centers cleared out, however, the previous policy could resume.

While the action prevents further separation of families, U.S. officials have yet to find means to return over 2,000 children still imprisoned in the states. A demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy last Thursday, demanding the return of these children, was organized by Amnesty International - Ireland (AII). AII is the Irish branch of an international human rights organziation.

"Mr. McAleenan’s statement that he will not detain families is a temporary measure but it is not a solution, especially as it is reportedly on the basis of a lack of resources," said a spokesperson from Amnesty International-Ireland. "Seeking asylum is a human right and must be prioritized. These harmful detention policies, as well as the criminalization of families seeking safety, must end."