The surge of unaccompanied minors continues to be an urgent
humanitarian crisis that has proponents on both sides clashing over a solution.
Conservatives are pushing for tighter border security and
cooperation from foreign governments, focusing on how to stem the flow before
it reaches our borders. On the other side, humanitarians are zealously
advocating for due process and proper treatment of minors once they are in our
custody.
Yesterday, July 7, 2015, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs reconvened to hear the latest updates from The
Department of Homeland Security. Republican Senator Ron Johnson from the state
of Wisconsin gave DHS a hard time, criticizing them for releasing minors into the
custody of parents and sponsors who are themselves undocumented.
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Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! News
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Senator Johnson also pointed out what appears to be an
inconsistency in the law. On the one hand, government funds are not supposed to
be spent on providing legal counselor for minors as there is no recognized
right to counsel. Yet grants are being paid to organizations to fund pro bono
representation for the minors.
Senator Johnson said these issues need to be dealt with, but
he did not specify a proposed course of action. He stressed the need for
piecemeal legislation, stating that comprehensive reform simply isn’t feasible
given our complex, broken immigration system.
The surge of unaccompanied minors is nothing new; this
problem has been occurring for many years and DHS was aware of the ongoing need
for resources. Many factors are at play; from violent conditions and the lack
of employment and educational opportunities in Central America to coyotes who
take advantage of lucrative smuggling operations. Smugglers have even gone so
far as to publish advertisements stating that minors who come to the United
States will be given a “permiso” and allowed to stay in the United States.
Representatives of Homeland Security are working with
officials in Central American countries to crack down on smuggling and false
advertising campaigns. The road to the United States is treacherous and DHS
hopes Central American countries will take responsibility for protecting their
own citizens.
Meanwhile, DHS is working with Health and Human Resources as
well as many pro bono organizations to ensure proper treatment of minors in DHS
custody. Yet in the wake of recent accusations that minors were mistakenly given adult doses of vaccinations, DHS has been receiving increased scrutiny
over their actions.
You can view the committee hearing here: http://www.c-span.org/video/?326977-1/hearing-undocumented-unaccompanied-minor-immigrants.
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