Ivanka Trump: Family separations were a ‘low point’

White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump acknowledged Thursday that the Trump administration’s practice of separating migrant families at the border was a “low point.”

The president’s elder daughter told Axios that the separation issue is something she feels “very strongly about” and is “vehemently against.”

{mosads}”I think immigration is incredibly complex as a topic, illegal immigration is incredibly complicated,” Trump said.

“But we are a country of laws,” she added. “We have to be very careful about incentivizing behavior that puts children at risk of being trafficked, at risk of entering this country with coyotes or making an incredibly dangerous journey alone.”

“These are not easy issues, these are incredibly difficult issues and like the rest of the country, I experience them in a very emotional way,” she said.

.@IvankaTrump: “That was a low point for me as well. I feel very strongly about that. I am very vehemently against family separation and the separation of parents and children…immigration is incredibly complex as a topic.” #axios360 pic.twitter.com/shU32wprwu

— CSPAN (@cspan) August 2, 2018

Trump attracted criticism from activists and some lawmakers last month when she remained publicly silent on the issue as advocates pushed for the government to reunite thousands of migrant children separated from their families.

Trump sparked backlash when she posted a picture of her playing with her daughter at the height of the separation crisis.

The Trump administration has faced intense bipartisan criticism for implementing a “zero tolerance” policy that called for prosecuting people who cross the U.S. border illegally. As a result of the policy, thousands of migrant children were separated from their parents and placed in holding facilities while the adults faced prosecution.

Lawmakers blasted the separation practice as “inhumane” and “cruel,” but President Trump and other officials insisted only Congress could address the issue.

However, Trump eventually caved to pressure and signed an executive order in June halting the separations.

The president reportedly told lawmakers the night before reversing course that Ivanka had voiced concerns about the policy.

After signing the executive order, Trump was asked if his daughter had shown him photos of children separated from their parents.

“Ivanka feels very strongly. My wife feels very strongly about it. I feel very strongly about it. I think anybody with a heart would feel very strongly about it,” he responded.

The Trump administration has since reunited more than 1,800 children ages 5 to 17 with their parents or sponsors, as well as dozens of children under the age of 5.

However, numerous children in government custody were not eligible to be reunited with their parents because of safety or legal concerns. In addition, 431 children are not able to be reunited because their parents were deported, the government has said.