Following Outrage At Home And Abroad, Trump Signs Executive Order Bringing Family Separation Practice To End

Amid criticism at home and abroad, United States President Donald Trump backed down on the issue of immigration late on Wednesday and signed orders to end the practice of separating families caught entering the country illegally through its border with Mexico, BBC World has reported.

The practice, which was introduced by the Trump administration as part of its ‘zero-tolerance’ policy towards illegal immigration, had resulted in over 2,300 children being separated from their parents between 5 May and 9 June.

"It's about keeping families together," Trump said at while signing the order. "I did not like the sight of families being separated," the President added.

Although the practice of separating families will be discontinued now, the crackdown on illegal immigration will continue.

However, a 2016 court ruling in the US bars the government from keeping children in family detention centres for more than 20 days.

The Trump administration is seeking a policy change through the courts to allow for the detention of migrant children for more than 20 days.