The Tories have been accused of "new levels of cruelty and heartlessness" after a minister refused to rule out deporting children to Rwanda.
MPs today heard that the Home Office is considering sending families to central Africa under the controversial scheme.
Critics say such a move would be "a stain on our government's conscience".
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick claimed that refusing to send children to the central African country would prompt traffickers to "focus" on smuggling families into the UK instead.
Facing cross-party MPs at the Women and Equalities Committee this afternoon, he hinted that the government may favour deporting whole families.
Mr Jenrick said: "The balance that we need to consider is the challenge of minors leaving the country to Rwanda against the risk of the UK becoming a magnet for traffickers focusing on families. I think that's a very real concern if the Rwanda policy was fully operationalised.
"I wouldn't want to see a situation where adult males were deterred from coming to the UK as a result of the Rwanda policy but the people smugglers continued their operations with a particular focus on families.
"I think there's a range of risks as a result of that."
He clarified, however, that unaccompanied minors would not face being deported to Rwanda.
Pressed by Tory MP Caroline Nokes, he said: "We haven't come to a firm conclusion but I think I've explained the thinking that we're going though... we wouldn't want to replace a trade in adult trace in adult males with a trade in families."
Mark Davies, head of communications and campaigns at the Refugee Council, told The Mirror: "All the evidence shows the scheme is unworkable and that it poses serious safeguarding risks, particularly for children.
"We have a moral and legal obligation to protect children who have fled war, persecution and oppression. It's wrong to treat vulnerable children like human cargo and we urge ministers not to do so."
Following the exchange, Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: "At the heart of these channel crossings are stories of intense suffering and human tragedy that no one, especially a child, should face.
"To send even one child across the world after what they've already been through would be a stain on our government's conscience.
"By refusing to rule out deporting families to Rwanda, this Conservative Government has reached new levels of cruelty and heartlessness."
Mr Jenrick said the government remains committed to its deportation project, saying he wants to see departures "as soon as possible".
But critics have rubbished the programme, which has already seen the UK pay £140 million to the Rwandan government without a single plane taking off.
Mr Carmichael said: "The Conservatives’ Rwanda asylum plan is immoral, ineffective and incredibly costly for taxpayers. It will do nothing to stop dangerous Channel crossings or combat people smuggling and human trafficking; instead it will give criminal gangs more power and profits.
"Yet again, the Conservatives are refusing to acknowledge that the best way to stop human trafficking is by providing safe and legal routes to sanctuary."
The government claims flying asylum seekers to Kigali will act as a deterrent to small boat crossings, but a report by cross-party MPs said there was no evidence to support this.
Last week campaigners hoping to torpedo the plan were handed a boost after top judges ruled the matter could be heard by the Court of Appeal.
Several organisations, including Care4Calais, had applied for the right to appeal.
Last week Clare Moseley, the founder of the refugee charity said: "We remain committed to ensuring that no person who has suffered the horrors of war, torture and human rights abuses will be forcibly deported to Rwanda where their safety cannot be guaranteed.
“The people we work with in Calais come from countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Sudan that have asylum acceptance rates that are as high as 82 - 98%.
"They are people who have escaped from the very worst things in this world and they urgently need our help."
Ms Moseley continued: "The Rwanda plan won’t end small boat crossings, it won’t stop people smugglers and it won’t keep refugees safe. There is a kinder and more effective way; giving safe passage to refugees in Calais.”
