[jdsteel]

Something like 80% of the kids did NOT come with adults that were their parents.

[frog in a pot]

Your point is important, of course. That 80% is associated with the deported who were not identified as a parent.

In a sane world we would proceed as though there is a parent somewhere in Mexico, or one of its southern neighbors, who is looking for their child.

It would seem proper to deliver the 80% to the U.S. offices of Mexio's government, or that of the child's native country, for proper return.

Those governments are better equipped than the U.S. to resolve such family matters. Such a policy would have the additional result of Mexico more strongly enforcing its borders thereby reducing the damage to the U.S.

Rhetorical question: "What happens when a country refuses to enforce its borders?"