[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              IMMIGRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GLENN THOMPSON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, the situation on our 
southern border and the influx of unaccompanied migrant children is 
both tragic and alarming.
  As the House and Senate debate this matter, it's important for us to 
recognize several areas of discussion that demand our attention.
  To start, Mr Speaker, we know this influx has been building for some 
time and that over the last several months it has grown at an even 
faster pace.
  Before 2009, the flow of unaccompanied children attempting to cross 
the border was less than 10,000 per year.
  These numbers have increased dramatically over the last few years. 
While recent estimates over the past month appear to indicate the flow 
is subsiding, we remain on pace to exceed 90,000 children for 2014.
  We also know that more than 90 percent of all these children come 
from just three countries--El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
  While economic conditions in this region have been poor for quite 
some time, they have not significantly changed in the last few years.
  We also know that a law passed in 2008 with the best of intentions--
the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection 
Reauthorization--is making it more difficult to return unaccompanied 
children to their families.
  Unlike illegal immigrants from Mexico, who are required by law to be 
processed and promptly returned home, the 2008 law guarantees minors 
from these countries a court date and mandates extensive assistance for 
temporary relocation as they wait out their pending appeal.
  We also know that a large number of these individuals evade attending 
these proceedings, and that ultimately, few minors are sent home. In 
fact, most are able to stay for years, and a large number remain 
permanently.
  According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement data, only 1,669 
children were deported in 2013 despite more than 26,000 apprehensions.
  These statistics are stunning, Mr. Speaker.
  There is no wonder that according to interviews conducted by the 
Department of Homeland Security that more than 90 percent of these 
children expect they will be able to stay in the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, what's even more concerning is how many of the Obama 
Administration's policies have not helped the current crisis.
  For example, the President's 2012 policy for Deferred Action for 
Childhood Arrivals gives these families hope that they might receive 
some sort of amnesty. This policy not only is detrimental to the rule 
of law and an overreach of executive authority, but it also sends the 
wrong signal.
  Mr. Speaker, all of this is a stark reminder of just how flawed the 
President and Senate's immigration reform bill is. Granting amnesty to 
11 million illegal immigrants would merely serve to reinforce the 
perceptions that if you come to the U.S. illegally you will be 
rewarded--and not only with a hearing, but full legalization. This does 
not help the current situation, to say the least.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, billions in new spending as the President 
has requested will not reverse the perceptions of a lenient enforcement 
environment in the U.S.
  Alternatively, what we do know is that this administration--and every 
administration--must do more to secure the border.
  What we do know, Mr. Speaker, is that we must do more to stem this 
migration influx, which should include changes to the 2008 trafficking 
law.
  What we do know, Mr. Speaker, is that we must do more to leverage our 
relations with Central America to support the expedited return of these 
children in a humane fashion.
  What we do know Mr. Speaker, is that we need the White House to 
enforce the laws, better secure our border, and to put aside political 
games and actually start working with Congress in a bipartisan manner.

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