2,000 children separated from parents during a six-week US immigration crackdown

Almost 2,000 children were separated from their parents during a six-week crackdown on illegal immigrants in the US.

Figures obtained from the Department of Homeland Security figures revealed that 1,995 minors were separated from 1,940 adults between April 19 and May 31.

The separations were not broken down by age, and included separations for illegal entry, immigration violations or possible criminal conduct by the adult.

Under a "zero tolerance" policy announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, security officials are now referring all cases of illegal entry for criminal prosecution.

US protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are.

Mr Sessions announced the effort on April 6, and Homeland Security began stepping up referrals in early May, effectively putting the policy into action.

Since then, stories of weeping children torn from the arms of their frightened parents have flooded the media and the policy has been widely criticised by church groups, politicians and children's advocates who say it is inhumane.

A battle in Congress is brewing in part over the issue.

Some immigrant advocates have said women were being separated from their infants - a charge Homeland Security and Justice officials have flatly denied.

They also said the children were being well cared for and disputed reports of disorder and mistreatment at the border.

On Thursday, Mr Sessions cited the Bible in defending the policy, arguing the recent criticisms were not "fair or logical and some are contrary to law".

"I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order," he said.

The International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian aid group, released a statement on Friday saying: "A policy of willing cruelty to those people, and using young sons and daughters as pawns, shatters America's strong foundation of humanitarian sensibility and family values."

The new figures are for people who tried to enter the US between official border crossings.

Asylum seekers who go directly to official crossings are not separated from their families, except in specific circumstances - such as if officials cannot confirm the relationship between the minors and adults, if the safety of the children is in question, or if the adult is being prosecuted.