U.S. Must ‘Do Right’ for Immigrant Children: Official, According to Reuters

Title: U.S. Officials Address Border Crisis Amid Surge of Migrant Children

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senior official from the U.S. government stated on Sunday that the U.S. border remains closed to illegal immigration, while also recognizing the need to respond compassionately to the influx of unaccompanied migrant children entering detention facilities.

Since October, over 52,000 children from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras have been apprehended while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, doubling the number from the previous year during the same timeframe. Additionally, thousands more have been stopped alongside parents or other adults.

"We must prioritize the welfare of the children. However, our border is not open to illegal migration, and we will take measures to control the situation," Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security, stated on NBC’s "Meet the Press".

Johnson explained that deportation proceedings are initiated for illegal migrants caught at the border, including minors. He noted that the government is considering more flexible options to address the situation of these children.

"We are exploring additional ways to handle these cases in a manner consistent with our laws and our values," Johnson added.

He reiterated President Barack Obama’s recent stance on using executive action to reform the U.S. immigration system. "There are several measures that the president and I can undertake within the existing legal framework. If Congress does not take action, we will move forward," Johnson indicated.

When asked whether the government intends to deport the current wave of Central American minors, Johnson did not provide a direct answer, instead stating that authorities would work to manage the situation and initiate deportation processes for illegal immigrants.

U.S. immigration officials attribute the crisis to factors such as extreme poverty, gang activity, and drug-related violence in Central America, compounded by misleading information from human traffickers suggesting that children reaching the U.S. border would be permitted to stay.

Critics argue that the Obama administration has been slow to address the escalating problem. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat representing a Texas congressional district along the border, mentioned on CNN that 48,000 individuals, including nearly 10,000 unaccompanied minors, were detained in Texas during May. "We should have been prepared for this surge. The administration should have anticipated this situation," he said.

Representative Raul Labrador, a Republican from Idaho, emphasized the need for a firm response to the conditions at border facilities. "The administration must promptly deport these families and children. It may sound harsh, but failing to act is creating a crisis that jeopardizes these children," he remarked during his appearance on "Meet the Press."

Labrador expressed concern over the growing frustration regarding the administration’s lack of action on border security issues.

(Reporting by Michael Flaherty; Editing by Jim Loney and Frances Kerry)