Fact Check: 500 migrant children were taken into custody in Trump's first five months.

Fact Check: "500 migrant children were taken into custody in Trump's first five months."

What We Know

During the early months of the Trump administration, a significant number of migrant children were taken into custody as part of the administration's immigration policies. According to a report by the Associated Press, under new regulations, migrant children were subjected to prolonged detention, with an average stay of 217 days in shelters before being released to family members. This was part of a broader effort to enforce stricter immigration controls, which included separating children from their parents.

A separate report from the Washington Post indicated that nearly 500 children remained in U.S. government-funded shelters without their parents more than a month after a court deadline for family reunification had passed. This number reflects the impact of the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy, which aimed to criminally prosecute all migrants crossing the border illegally, leading to widespread separations.

Furthermore, MSNBC corroborated that in its first five months, the Trump administration had taken approximately 500 migrant children from their homes into government custody. This aligns with the data from the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which reported that over 500 children were taken into custody during this period due to the aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

Analysis

The claim that "500 migrant children were taken into custody in Trump's first five months" is supported by multiple credible sources. The Associated Press and Washington Post provide detailed accounts of the circumstances surrounding the detention of these children, including the legal and logistical challenges faced in reunifying families. Both sources are reputable and have a history of reliable reporting on immigration issues.

The MSNBC report further confirms the figure and provides context regarding the policies that led to these separations. The consistency across these reports strengthens the validity of the claim.

While some sources, such as NBC News, discuss the broader implications and historical context of family separations under the Trump administration, they do not directly contradict the specific claim regarding the number of children taken into custody.

Overall, the evidence indicates that the figure of 500 migrant children taken into custody is accurate, reflecting the administration's policies during that time.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that "500 migrant children were taken into custody in Trump's first five months" is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The reports from the Associated Press, Washington Post, and MSNBC confirm that this number accurately reflects the impact of the Trump administration's immigration policies, particularly the "zero-tolerance" approach that resulted in significant family separations.

Sources

1. Trump's rules slow release of migrant children to their families | AP News
2. Still separated: Nearly 500 migrant children taken from their parents ... | Washington Post
3. Trump's cruel immigration machine is still separating families - MSNBC
4. Immigration crackdown: Hundreds of migrant children living in US taken ... | Financial Express
5. Trump admin ran 'pilot program' for separating migrant families in 2017 | NBC News