ICE acting director says migrant family deportations are an option

The Department of Homeland Security -- strapped from a lack of resources and overwhelmed by the sheer number of migrants crossing the border -- is unable to deport all those who are ordered to be removed from the country and has said it focuses on the people it deems most dangerous.

The operation under consideration would target migrants with a "final order of removal," Morgan said.

"I think we can't exempt anybody," Morgan told reporters at ICE headquarters in Washington. "That will include families."

Morgan described the potential deportation of families as a way to reduce the incentive for migrants to travel to the United States. Families are often released into the US following their apprehension, given the limits on the time children can be held in government custody.

In recent months, there has been a steep uptick in families apprehended at the southern border. In April, for example, families made up the majority of apprehensions, according to Customs and Border Protection data.

CNN first reported last month that the administration had been considering deporting migrant families with court-ordered removals in an attempt to "send a message" to smugglers, according to a senior administration official.

The Obama administration also deployed an operation targeting families in the later years. It was revived in President Donald Trump's first year in office.

Morgan said the operational requirements are still being considered.

ICE, like other agencies within DHS, is facing an increase of migrants in its custody. As of Monday, there were around 52,000 single adults in ICE custody, surpassing the average daily population in custody for at least the past 15 years, as well as exceeding funding levels yet again.

"We're not at a breaking point," Morgan said. "We're in the middle of a breaking point."