By MORGAN LEE and CLAUDIA TORRENS, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Immigrant parents who were separated from their children under President Donald Trump's zero tolerance policy for illegal border crossings are struggling to communicate with their sons and daughters.

In many cases, phone calls are the only way parents can communicate with their children.

But the calls are sporadic. In cases where parents can talk to their children, their loved ones are despondent and crying.

Several parents say it has been difficult to maintain their composure as children break down in tears, complain of loneliness and ask for clues about when they might be released.