[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 12017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORT FOR UNDERAGE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

  (Mr. McNERNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, the current surge of children seeking 
entrance to the United States and the protection of our laws is a 
humanitarian challenge that we cannot ignore. The reasons for this 
surge are complex, ranging from a misunderstanding of the 2008 law 
signed by President Bush to discourage human trafficking to the 
consequences of our drug wars.
  Our focus should be the interests of the children. Any person in this 
country is assured due process and the protection of our laws. 
Shortcutting these protections would be a tragedy and a crime. Each 
case must be decided on an individual basis, taking the child's best 
interest into account. Sending children back to be likely victims of 
murder or other crimes would be morally unacceptable and would cause 
new waves of refugees.
  As in the aftermath of World War II when the United States helped 
rebuild Europe, taking the moral and humanitarian road will benefit us 
in the long run, whether this means finding homes for these children in 
the United States or helping their countries of origin develop the 
infrastructure to receive them back. This will create safe, friendly, 
and stable neighbors.
  I urge Americans to support the humanitarian road that will benefit 
the children and our country.

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