Poll: Majority opposes policy of separating families at border

A majority of respondents in a new poll said they oppose the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that is leading to the separation of migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to the poll, conducted for The Daily Beast by Ipsos, 56 percent did not agree it is “appropriate” to remove children from their parents a the border.

{mosads}“It is appropriate to separate undocumented immigrant parents from their children when they cross the border in order to discourage others from crossing the border illegally,” reads the phrase respondents were asked if they supported.

Only 27 percent said they agreed with the policy. More Republicans agreed with the statement than Democrats, with 46 percent of Republicans saying they supported the separations and 32 percent saying they did not. 

The survey of approximately 1,000 individuals was conducted from June 14-15.

The results come as the Trump administration continues to face backlash for its “zero tolerance” immigration policy at the southern border.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions in April instructed the Justice Department to prioritize the criminal prosecution of individuals attempting to cross the border illegally.

The Associated Press earlier this month reported that approximately 2,000 children were removed from their families in recent weeks.