About two dozen demonstrators took to the steps of the Putnam County Courthouse in Carmel Monday to show solidarity with undocumented immigrant families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Residents from Putnam and northern Westchester counties say they're concerned about the psychological scarring the separated children could have endured.

"I don't want to be part of a country that's putting children in cages," says Gail Stacy Koff, of Mahopac.

On Monday, a federal judged extended a deadline from Tuesday to Friday to reunite children under the age of 5 with their families. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also set a deadline to reunite the rest of the immigrant children with families by July 26.

Separated children are scattered in shelters in 16 states, including New York.

HHS officials say they are using DNA tests as part of the reunification process.