Cong. Bentivolio was not exposing much truth about the 'kids'. His delegation, as is usual, sat around in suits and ties being briefed by state officials. If he had taken off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, visited the poorer barrios and actually spoken with some residents, he would have been exposed to the truth:
- they are not 'kids': 2/3rd are males over 14;
- there is a large criminal gang element; and
- the motivation is a life of welfare that is many times better than a life of work at home.
Also, anyone that can afford to pay a gang $3,000 to $7,000 to smuggle their gang-banger teen to the U.S. is at least upper-middle class. The average Central American doesn’t have a chance to be part of this scam. Our misplaced generosity is really sympathy for the devil.