Trump's immigration policy could cause mental trauma for children, say doctors

Several children separated from parents at the southern US border have been heard desperately sobbing and wailing in a recording released Monday by transparency group ProPublica, some so hard they almost cannot breathe.

At least 2,300 of these youngsters have been separated from their parents sinceApril, when President Donald Trump's administration launched its "zero tolerance" immigration policy.

But the situation could get worse — a senior official with the Department of Health and Human Services told The Washington Examiner that 11,500 children were already being held in detention centres, and the number could rise to 30,000 by August.

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Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policyincludes federal prosecution of the adults trying to "smuggle" children across the border and either detaining the children at centres run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the Department of Health and Human Services or sending them to live with their relatives in the US.

Doctors say thatone of the most traumatic experiences children can face, no matter what kind of home situation they came from, is being separated from their parents.

On Friday, the American Public Health Association issued its own statement decrying the separation of children from families as “inhumane,” warning it would have “a dire impact on their health, both now and into the future.”

The APHA said the trauma from such separation could lead to alcoholism, substance abuse, depression, obesity, and suicide.

Kraftreleased a statement opposing the border security and immigration reform act.The statement mentioned: "Separating children from their parents contradicts everything we stand for as pediatricians – protecting and promoting children’s health. We know that family separation causes irreparable harm to children."

"Conditions in USdetention facilities, which include forcing children to sleep on cement floors, open toilets, constant light exposure, insufficient food and water, no bathing facilities, and extremely cold temperatures, are traumatizing for children. These are not appropriate places for children," it mentioned.

Earlier, several Democrats protested against the immigration policy outside of Capitol Hill and also heckled him as he made his way out.The protestors, standing right before the press held signs that read "Families Belong Together."