TENS of thousands of people took part in protests across the US over the weekend against President Donald Trump’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policies and separating migrant children from their families.

Marches were held in most major cities, including New York, Chicago and San Francisco, calling for “families to be reunited” as anger grows over children forced apart from their parents and held in detention centres as they try to enter the country.

Actor Susan Sarandon was among 575 people arrested at a Washington DC demonstration on Friday. 

She called on women to remain “defiant” as the protests continued across US towns and cities on Saturday with celebrities joining an estimated 750 marches across the country.

Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys told a New York rally that the protesters would not “back down” in their fight to “save the soul of” the US.

Speaking from a platform she warned: “Our democracy is at stake, our humanity is at stake.

“We need all the children reunited with their parents. We demand to end the zero-humanity policy. We need to save the Supreme Court. And we need to vote. Because when we vote we win. And so America, and I want you to join us to say we’re not backing down.”

Mr Trump faced around 200 people who picketed his New Jersey golf club where he was playing when the protests took place.

Under mounting pressure, US president signed an executive order to “keep families together” in detention centres although critics warn that it does not address those already separated.

More than 2,342 children were taken away from their families between 5 May and 9 June alone.