The Trump administration is asking a court for more time to reunite families that were separated at the border under its "zero-tolerance" policy to prosecute every person who enters the country illegally.
Hours before a hearing Friday in San Diego, the Justice Department filed papers seeking an extension of the July 10 deadline to reunite all parents with children under 5 and the July 26 deadline to reunite everyone else.
The administration says federal law requires it to ensure that children are safe and that requires time. Administration officials also say that they won't be able to confirm a child's parentage by the deadline if DNA testing is inconclusive.
U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw scheduled Friday's hearing for an update on compliance with his order.
