THERESA May will roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump despite his government’s “inhumane” treatment of families at the United States-Mexico border which has led to thousands of youngsters being separated from their parents and detained in cages.

READ MORE: I’ve met lots of men like Trump in the east end of Glasgow

The Prime Minister condemned the recently amended US policy when she was pressed by Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster leader, in the Commons yesterday – World Refugee Day – but indicated she would still be meeting him in the UK next month.

Although Trump yesterday signed an executive order designed to prevent child separations, his administration’s actions had already received widespread condemnation and been compared to the policies of Nazi Germany. US immigration officials say 2342 children were separated from 2206 parents between May 5 and June 9 amid a “zero-tolerance” crackdown on illegal immigration.

Babies and toddlers have been sent to wire-framed detention centres after being separated from parents travelling from south and central American to the US. Photographs and recordings have emerged of young children standing beside US border officials crying desperately from their mothers and fathers.

“Many in the House of Commons will be aware of the deeply distressing audio and images of children separated from their parents in US detention centres where infants – as young as 18 months – are being caged like animals, and babies are being separated from their parents,” said Blackford, who added that one US expert had warned hundreds of the children would never to be reunited with their parents.

“These children will be lost in the system. Orphaned by the US government,” he said.

In response, May initially joked about Blackford’s appearance in the chamber after he was expelled last week, before condemning the family separation policy. She said the UK had an “enduring” relationship with the US and that she would be discussing a range of issues with Trump when they met next month in the UK.

SNP MP Neil Gray tweeted: “The Prime Minister starts her answer to @IanBlackfordMP’s excellent and timely question on the disgusting treatment of children by Trump with a joke. Absolutely appalling. #TrumpCamps #PMQs.”

Meanwhile, Holyrood will today unite in condemnation of Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on illegal immigrants in a debate to mark World Refugee Day. In a rare moment of cross party agreement representatives of all five of the Scottish Parliament’s parties will express their outrage.

The SNP’s Christina McKelvie, said: “This is an absolutely horrifying, inhumane development from the Trump administration. Under no circumstances should children be separated from their parents and kept under lock and key, caged like animals in cold, steel cages. To describe fellow human beings – who are legally entitled to seek sanctuary – as an ‘infestation’ is a deeply worrying escalation of his right-wing rhetoric, even for Trump.”

Scottish Conservatives spokesman said: “The situation at the US-Mexico border is completely unacceptable. No-one could fail to be moved by the stories coming out from there, and it’s right that Holyrood unites to condemn what’s going on.”

Ross Greer, for the Scottish Greens, said it was right Holyrood should speak with “one voice” to condemn the US government’s “inhumane actions”. Liberal Democrat MSP, Alex Cole-Hamilton, added: “Trump’s callous separation of children from their parents is a horrific abuse and a stain on America’s reputation. May has pandered to Donald Trump for too long.

“When he comes to Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats will be outside with the tens of thousands of Scots who oppose his divisive views on immigration, LGBT rights and human rights.”

Mexican foreign minister Luis Videgaray Caso said the practice of separating children and parents was “cruel and inhuman”, while the US Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable has described it as”contrary to American values”.