There are "limited circumstances" to separate children from their parents at the border, but otherwise, it's wrong and Congress needs to do its oversight to hold immigration officials accountable, Rep. Henry Cuellar said Friday.
"I've heard that when parents were taken over to go before a magistrate, they were told, here are your kids and when you come back from the courts, the kids will come back," the Texas Democrat told CNN's "New Day."
"I know that because I've heard that from some of the officials here ... that is wrong to separate the kids."
Under limited circumstances, such as if the parent has a criminal record or possibility of abuse to the child, I understand that," Cuellar said. "We do that to U.S. citizens all the time. But again, if they were doing it just to separate, that is wrong and this is why Congress needs to make sure we do our oversight and hold people accountable if they do that particular type of situation."
He said he does believe that immigration officials are trying to do a good job, but "we have to go after any bad apples" who may be involved.
He also commented on ICE raids that have been staged, noting that criminal aliens "definitely need to be picked up," but it must be certain that the people with criminal records are the ones being detained.
Cuellar also talked about the news that 96 House Democrats are calling for an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, but said he's not there yet, as he thinks the committees should get as much information as they can first and hold people in contempt if they don't want to show up for hearings.