Thread by @AP

.@AP investigative reporters @garanceburke and @mendozamartha teamed up with @frontlinepbs and asked: What happens to migrant kids when they’re put in US custody? (1/6)

READ MORE: apnews.com/015702afdb4d4f…

First the reporters had to find out how many kids were involved. @AP and @frontlinepbs found all the migrant infants, toddlers, children and teens held by the US government over the past year would overflow a typical NFL stadium. (2/6)

That’s almost 70,000 kids, scattered across 170 programs in 23 states.

The reporters asked: What does it feel like in the detention centers? The residential shelters?

The children’s answers: Scared. Lonely. Angry. Hurt.

“There was despair everywhere,” one teen said. (3/6)

The investigation found Trump administration policies led to family separations — which are still happening — and make it harder for parents to reunite with their own children. (4/6)

Experts say locking up kids is traumatic and can impact them for the rest of their lives. Some suffer anxiety. Depression. Heart disease. Even cancer. (5/6)

This fall, about 4,000 migrant kids are still in government custody, away from their families.

More arrive every week.

Watch more on #FrontlinePBS tonight. (6/6)

apne.ws/oeM2dOj