Governor wants answers on 4 kids separated from families

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's governor says at least four children from his state were recently separated from their parents by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and wrote Monday to demand the agency halt the practice until it has a plan to ensure the welfare of children.

Gov. Tom Wolf asked Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan to account for all children separated from their parents this year in Pennsylvania and to tell him how long they were kept apart and about any steps the federal government took to ensure their well-being.

Wolf said in the letter that the four children are U.S. citizens and come from at least three migrant families. He said that "information relayed" to state officials indicated federal agents did not make sure that the children had adequate temporary guardianship.

Messages seeking comment were left with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement press office in Washington and an agency spokesman in Philadelphia on Monday.

Wolf spokesman J.J. Abbott said the separations occurred in Philadelphia in late July, and at least two of the kids have since been reunited with their parents.

He said the administration has been working to get more details about what happened in Philadelphia, including exactly when and where the separations occurred.

"We know that at least two, their parents were eventually released, and the families were reunited," Abbott said. "But I don't believe on the other two we had any finality of the result."

In June 2018 — days after President Donald Trump retreated amid an international uproar — a federal judge ordered that the practice of splitting up families at the border be halted except in limited circumstances, such as threats to child safety. The judge left individual decisions to the...