Posted on 05/30/2014 7:04:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
More than 60,000 illegal children below the age of 18 will cross the border this year unaccompanied by an adult, and the government thinks that number is likely to double next year.
The flood of children from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and other Central American nations is putting a tremendous strain on government resources. Reuters reports that not only is there simply no room to house the children, but the budget problem makes it difficult to adequately care for them. It costs the U.S. $252 a day to care for each child and the total cost this year could reach $868 million. That number is expected to climb to $2 billion next year.
The tenfold increase in illegal minors crossing the border alone since 2011 is partly the result of relaxed deportation policies of the Obama administration. But it is also true that many of these children are escaping poverty, abuse, and rampant violence in their home countries.
The shortage of housing for these children, some as young as 3, has already become so acute that an emergency shelter at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, has been opened and can accommodate 1,000 of them, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in an interview with Reuters.
The issue is an added source of tension between Democrats and Republicans, who disagree on how to rewrite immigration laws. With comprehensive legislation stalled, President Barack Obama is looking at small, administrative steps he could take, which might be announced this summer. No details have been outlined but immigration groups are pressing him to take steps to keep families with children together.
The minors flooding over the border are often teenagers leaving behind poverty or violence in Mexico and other parts of Central America such as Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. They are sometimes seeking to reunite with a parent who is already in the United States, also without documentation.
“This is a humanitarian crisis and it requires a humanitarian response,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski said in an interview. The Maryland Democrat, a former social worker, has likened the flood of unaccompanied children to the “boat people” of past exodus movements.
Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, the senior Republican on Mikulski’s committee, said, “The need is there, you know the humanitarian aspect of it, but we’re challenged on money.”
Immigration groups lobbying for comprehensive reform argue that children are being hit hardest by the political deadlock.
With an even bigger funding challenge looming for 2015, Mikulski worries corners might be cut. She said children could end up being placed in federal holding cells meant only for adults and that funds might have to be shifted from other programs, such as refugee aid, to help cover the $252-per-day cost of detaining a child.
Mark Lagon, who coordinated the George W. Bush administration’s efforts to combat human trafficking, tied the sharp increase in unaccompanied minors to both U.S. economic factors and escalating violence in Central America.
He noted that there was a decrease in migration to the United States in the period 2008-2010 that reflected the U.S. economic downturn, and that has been reversed.
What’s to be done? I have some ideas on the next page.
The immediate need must be met — that much is clear. But beyond feeding and housing these children, what’s the long-term solution? Better border security only means we catch more of them. And these kids are in extreme danger of being exploited by coyotes and human traffickers, being sold for slave labor or worse.
This is a regional problem that demands a regional response. The countries of origin for these children must do a better job of protecting them. At the very least, we should insist these countries should either agree to protect the kids when we return them or contribute to their care. Doing nothing should not be an option.
If most of these countries complain about the U.S. being “world policeman,” neither should we be “world nanny.”
Coming here to fill the schools that American kids don’t want to fill. I guess.
Jeb Bush: “They’re doing it out of love.”
There are 10.4 million students from immigrant households in public schools, accounting for one in five public school students. Of these students, 78 percent speak a language other than English at home.
Overall, one in four public school students now speaks a language other than English at home.
And like the tsunami of children being born to `single mothers’ in this country, every single one of them will require “services”/tax dollars.
Where exactly is it written down that we agreed to raise Mexico’s cast-off children?
Oh yeah, the Demoblicans are using their power-of-attorney to agree on our behalves, even though a clear majority of us are opposed to it.
Like the `Patient Privacy and Affordable Care’ act.
That’s a disgrace. No wonder the country is broke.
If there wasn’t already a permanent Democrat majority, there certainly will be once these kids are legalized and ready to vote.
BTW the whole thing about dropping illegals off in Arizona looks to me like a method of turning swing states blue.
Our current LEGAL immigration policies are turning the entire country blue. It is just a matter of time. You can't bring in 1.1 million legal immigrants a year, 87% of whom are minorities as defined by the USG, and not expect electoral consequences. Since 1990 over 25 million legal immigrants have entered the country. Two thirds of them will vote Dem once they attain citizenship.
In 1970 one in 21 was foreign born; today it is one in 8, the highest in 90 years; and within a decade, it will be one in seven, the highest in our history. In 1970 there were 9.7 million foreign-born and today there are 45 million.
This is like kicking the planks out of a lifeboat.
Stick a fork in us we’re done
RE: Stick a fork in us we’re done
Nope. Get these children in custody, find out who their parents or guardians are, and RETURN THEM TO THEIR FAMILIES.
What’s so hard about that?
Maybe they can go stay at Eric Cantors house
Texas sure can’t take too many more
Yeah....brought here against their will. Their love of this country overshadows any aspect of legality. They only want to assimilate and contribute to this country./s
The North American Union?
these children are escaping poverty, abuse, and rampant violence in their home countries.
All caused by their own people. When this kids grow up and duplicate the same conditions here where are their children going to escape to?
Three words,
Holder/Obama Cabal
But it is also true that many of these children are escaping poverty, abuse, and rampant violence in their home countries.
In 99.999 % of the time this is TOTALLY FALSE
If we had a real Sec of State or a real President..they would call in the Ambassador of these countries and tell them we were cutting off all visa’s to the US for their citizens unless they immediately repatriated these youngsters.
All the rich people of these rat holes want to come to Miami, NY and LA to spend their money..and they would take care of the problem.
If their family is broken up...well that is the fault of their home country..not us.
Immigration is the most important issue we face. Without a change in our policies the US is doomed to become a second rate country.
Today we invade,
Tomorrow we vote!
I’ve completely given up on the idea of ever having secure borders again. None of our esteemed “leaders” can summon up the courage to stop the flood.
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