Thank you for commenting @dmcamera and for making this case:

But where is the uproar about American children separated through no fault of their own from fathers or mothers who have broken the law and are in prison? Surely they should have the same rights and their parents should be released from prison to be with them?

But there is a difference, children's parents who get jail time still are left with one parent or other family members in a stable home. A child who comes to the border and is taken to some "camp" of some sorts without any caring adults or family is a bit of a different story. I know the illegal immigrants are a big problem but as you said innocent children should not have to suffer. That is not humane. We have the same problems in South Africa. They cross the border and they commit a lot of crime in our country, take our peoples jobs in a country where about 26 million people are unemployed. They start businesses which could have been opportunities for South Africans, so I totally understand the "anti-illegal immigrant" sentiments but better solutions should be found by governments and that should not be to punish the innocent children for their parent's faults. If we give our approval to these practices then we could just as well go work for the CPS.