Migrant children scandal: Donald Trump signs an order to 'keep families together' at US borders

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to keep families together at the southern US border, following global outrage at the practice of separating children from their parents.

The President said at the White House that he doesn't like the sight of children being separated from their families.

He said, "We are keeping families together." But the president added the "zero tolerance" policy will continue.

The harsh rules were introduced in order to deter illegal immigrants, but pictures of children crying as their parents were detained were widely seen and condemned.

Upon the signing of the executive law, Vice President Mike Pence said the President will be calling upon Congress to change the laws.

Mr Trump adds that the word "compassion" comes into it.

The President has been trying to win over congressional support on immigration amid a crisis along the border involving the separation of immigrant children from their families.

Watched by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Vice President Mike Pence, Donald Trump signs an executive order on immigration (AFP/Getty Images)

Earlier, Mr Trump stressed that the country will "still have to maintain toughness or our country will be overrun by people, by crime".

The drastic change in policy comes hours after Mr Trump blamed the "Fake News" media and Democrats in a series of tweets defending his "zero tolerance" stance on immigration.

Homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has reportedly been working on executive action that would end the separation process.

The president told reporters: "We are also going to count on Congress, obviously, but we are signing an executive order in a little while."

He added: "I'm going to be signing an executive order in a little while before I go to Minnesota but, at the same time, I think you have to understand, we're keeping families together but we have to keep our borders strong.

"We will be overrun with crime and with people that should not be in our country."

The effort marks a dramatic departure for a US administration that has been insisting that it has no choice but to separate families apprehended at the border because of the law and a court decision.

Ms Nielsen, the president and other officials have repeatedly said the only way to end the practice is for Congress to pass new legislation, though both Democrats and some Republicans have said the president could reverse it with a simple phone call.

But Mr Trump blamed Democrats for obstructing his efforts to change immigration laws in the US in two tweets on Wednesday.

He tweeted: "The Fake News is not mentioning the safety and security of our Country when talking about illegal immigration.

"Our immigration laws are the weakest and worst anywhere in the world, and the Dems will do anything not to change them & to obstruct-want open borders which means crime!

"The news in recent days has been dominated by images of children held in cages at border facilities, as well as audio recordings of young children crying for their parents.

He added: "It's the Democrats fault, they won't give us the votes needed to pass good immigration legislation. They want open borders, which breeds horrible crime.

"Republicans want security. But I am working on something - it never ends!"

The administration recently put into place a "zero tolerance" policy in which all unlawful border crossings are referred for prosecution - a process that moves adults to the custody of the US Marshals Service and sends many children to facilities run by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Under the Obama administration, such families were usually referred for civil deportation proceedings, not requiring separation.

The policy had led to a spike in family separations in recent weeks, with more than 2,300 minors separated from their families at the border from May 5 through until June 9, according to the Department of Homeland Security.