A policy was set in motion by the Trump administration last April to prosecute immigrants who enter the American border illegally.

Last year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions explained the reasons behind this policy saying, “If you cross the border unlawfully, even a first offense, then we’re going to prosecute you…If you smuggle an illegal alien across the border, then we’ll prosecute you for smuggling. If you’re smuggling a child, then we’re going to prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you probably, as required by law. If you don’t want your child to be separated, then don’t bring them across the border illegally. It’s not our fault that somebody does that.”

“I don’t think its right to separate families,” said Junior Sebastian Valentin. “I think there is a better way to deal with that. I think families should stay together through everything.”

Junior Hailey Dowdy agreed. “The separating of families . . . is not a good way to go about it,” she said. “If they (immigrants) are willing to risk so much to get here, obviously what they are experiencing is not good and separating them (families) won’t help with anything.”

The family separation policy mandated that children be separated from their parents, family members, and any adults that had accompanied them, whether it was to illegally cross the U.S./Mexico border, or, in some cases, legally seek asylum.

Government officials announced that through this “zero-tolerance” policy, more than 2,300 children were separated from their families, with all adults being detained at the border to be prosecuted, parents sent to federal jail, and children placed under the protection of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Facing national outcry, on June 20th, President Trump signed an executive order crafted to help keep migrant families together at the US/Mexico border. On June 26, in response to an ACLU class action lawsuit, a federal judge ordered U.S. immigration officials to reunite the separated children with their parents within 30 days.

The Trump administration announced on July 26 that 1,442 children had been reunited with their parents, with 711 remaining in government shelters. Officials announced that they will work alongside the court to reunite the remaining children with their parents.

Voters could soon voice their opinion on the immigration policy. This August, voters will be headed to the polls to determine coveted positions in their states.