On March 22, US media published photos showing immigrant children being detained by US border patrol at a facility in Donna, Texas.

The children are allowed to wear masks to prevent the spread of nCoV but must stay in groups crowded into `chambers` made of plastic partitions.

The US Border Patrol’s immigration child care facility at Donna consists of large interconnected tents, with some enclosed outdoor areas where children are allowed.

Immigrant children in a tent at a facility set up by the US Border Patrol in Donna, Texas, on March 20.

These images were released to the media by Congressman Henry Cuellar, a Democrat in the city of Laredo, Texas, after local officials refused a request to go to a tent for immigrant children.

Cuellar said he also wanted the public to pay attention to the `extreme challenges` of US border patrol officers when having to look after so many children.

Officials in charge repeatedly refused to provide information about the 15,000 children being held and their `crisis` living conditions.

US government agencies in charge of the issue have repeatedly refused or ignored requests from the media for access to mandatory residential facilities for immigrant children.

Former President Donald Trump’s administration repeatedly allowed American media access to these facilities, even though he pursued a policy of restricting immigration that President Joe Biden vowed to reverse.

Immigrant children in a tent at a facility set up by the US Border Patrol in Donna, Texas, on March 20.

Criticism of Biden on the border issue is increasing, even from Democrats.

The US government is urgently opening additional facilities to receive about 5,000 immigrant children from border patrol facilities, while promoting the return of children under the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

However, border patrol agents detained more immigrant children than were returned, even though 40% of them were accompanied by parents or legal guardians.

President Biden deported thousands of immigrant adults and families, but refused to do so for children not traveling with their parents.

`These images show that even when we and the Biden administration have the best intentions, this is still extremely difficult,` Cuellar said.