WASHINGTON – The Trump administration says lawmakers’ visits to migrant children in federal shelters are wasting staff resources that could be used to help connect kids and parents.

But Democrats say lawmakers should be granted immediate access to shelters housing about 12,000 migrant children, including about 2,000 who have been separated from their parents as a result of President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy at the border.

Sirley Silveira Paixao, an immigrant from Brazil seeking asylum, left, and paralegal and interpreter Luana Mason listen on the phone to Denise Brown, director of Heartland Human Care Service, on the procedures Paixao needs to fulfill to get her son Diego released from immigration detention in Chicago, on Friday. Seated with them are Lidia Karine Souza, second from right, and her son Diogo, who recently was released from immigration detention. Paixao and her son arrived in this country from Brazil on May 22, and were separated shortly after. She was released on June 13 and has been living in Massachusetts, while her son was taken to Chicago. Associated Press/Charles Rex Arbogast

In a letter Tuesday to leaders of the Senate and House judiciary committees, the Health and Human Services Department says nearly 500 work hours have been devoted to arranging visits for more than 70 lawmakers.

The letter says, “Many of these hours would otherwise have been spent … verifying parental relationships.”

HHS is asking lawmakers to submit visit requests two weeks in advance.