Monday, August 4, 2014

RETURN CHILDREN TO HOME COUNTRY



RETURN CHILDREN TO HOME COUNTRY


There is an ongoing humanitarian crisis at our nation’s southern border. Estimates are that as many as 90,000 unaccompanied children from Central America will have crossed the border by the end of this year.

It’s a dangerous journey to the border, and many have suffered heartbreaking mistreatment and abuse. That’s why anyone who wants to help these children should work to spare them from the false promise that they will have permanent shelter once arriving in the United States.

Some are suggesting that these children should be taken in and housed indefinitely within our borders at taxpayer expense – but I believe that would be a mistake. These minors should be treated humanely and returned to their home country immediately, not shipped and housed throughout the nation.

The Obama administration should be required to consult with the governor of a state and satisfy specific criteria before being allowed to transport unaccompanied alien minors into any state. After all, we are still a Republic.

Any legislation should prohibit the transportation of unaccompanied alien minors across state lines unless the secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the governor of the affected state, certifies that the minors will not have a burdensome economic impact or negative public health impact on the state or affected communities.

Legislation should also prohibit the transportation of unaccompanied alien minors unless the secretary of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security certify that transporting them will not delay their immediate return to their home countries.

It’s outrageous that President Obama has failed to lead on this issue. Instead, he expected Congress to grant him what amounts to a blank check. Like the president, the Senate Democrats were not interested in addressing the policies that created this border crisis, and instead, tried to send a blank check to the president for him to continue his misguided policies.

Republican ideas to secure the border and address this humanitarian crisis were blocked from receiving a vote by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his Senate Democrats. This while not proposing any bill that would go to the heart of dealing with the crisis.

We must enforce our nation’s immigration laws and secure our border now. Securing the border is the most compassionate response to stopping these unaccompanied children from making such dangerous attempts to cross the border in the first place, putting their safety and lives at risk under a false pretense. Only when it is clear for all to see that our border is finally secure, will people stop risking their lives and the lives of their families by undertaking this dangerous journey.

Contact your representatives in congress (Republican or Democrat) to demand immediate action to close our borders and end this crisis. We must continue to prioritize border security as part of any effort to address this current crisis and ensure that these children are treated humanely and returned to their home.

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