Texas Congressman discusses border security, family separations during press conference

Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, held a press conference on Monday to discuss topics including border security, NAFTA and family separations.

A child could be separated from their parents within the zero tolerance policy, which was recently implemented to criminally prosecute those crossing the border illegally.

"When somebody comes in through the river banks, they're putting their kids in danger or themselves in danger," said Cuellar.

In these cases, parents are transferred from Department of Homeland Security to criminal custody while the child remains with immigration authorities. However, Cuellar explains that there are other factors considered when determining the process of separation that includes confirming the adult is a parent.

"If they can't prove it then they separate them because it might be, they're using the child to come in," said Cuellar.

In addition, Customs and Border Protection also reviews the adult's criminal history. If there is a threat to the child, they will be separated.

However. the U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Manual Padilla, Jr., made it clear that none of the separations happen out in the field when immigrants first encounter agents.

"There is no separations that happens in the field," said Padilla. "I know there's a picture out there and it kind of correlated to a separation, that does not exist."

There are some congressional leaders like Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, who stands against the separation of families and believes there should be a better way of handling the process.

"I would process them through amnesty procedures as a unit," said Gonzalez. "If they stay here, they stay here as a unit. If they for some reason have to be deported, they're deported as a unit."