(Image source from: Anadolu Agency)

Thousands of people took to the streets of New York on Wednesday to mark World Refugee Day and knock the United States President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy against immigrants.

Protesters marched from Bryant Park to the United Nations headquarters carrying posters that read "Refugees welcome," "No child is illegal" and "Keep families together," creating a long queue along the road.

The gathering as well protested the Trump administration’s practice of separating immigrant parents suspected of crossing the border illicitly from their children.

On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order halting his administration's implementation of the family separation policy.

The "zero tolerance" policy of Trump refers all apprehended immigrant adults for criminal prosecution, a break with past administrations that constricted criminal referral for most adults who lawlessly crossed into the U.S. with their juvenile family members.

Each year, June 20 is observed as World Refugee Day.

On Tuesday, the United Nations proclaimed that the world's forcibly displaced population rose by 2.9 million last year, with a record 68.5 million people forcibly displaced as a consequence of ill-treatment, conflict or hostility.

By Sowmya Sangam