Number of children crossing into U.S. alone plummets since June

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Reuters

BY DOINA CHIACU

(Reuters) - The number of children crossing illegally on their own into the United States dropped 70 percent from June to August, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said on Monday as he appealed to Congress for $1.2 billion in supplemental funding.

A yearlong surge that brought nearly 63,000 unaccompanied children to the southwestern U.S. border had the Obama administration grappling for ways to handle the influx and stem the flow of children and families trying to get into the country.

President Barack Obama on Saturday cited the crisis, which he said made Americans wary of new immigration measures, as the reason he put off taking executive action on immigration reform until after November congressional elections.

U.S. government figures show 3,141 unaccompanied children tried to cross the border in August, compared with this year's peaks of 10,580 in May and 10,622 in June. The July figure was 5,501. Adults with children trying to cross into the country dropped to 3,295 in August from 16,329 in June, they show.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/08/us-usa-immigration-children-idUSKBN0H329820140908

[Sunlei]

1. Mexico has cracked down on the train riders and now also has stops on major roads.

Some may still make it to the borders, authorities do take bribes. Travel through Mexico is a lot more dangerous. Near the road blocks people bypass and walk through the woods and fields, easy prey for criminals who wait for them.

I hope President Obama does something positive, huge and good with immigration reform in, December?
It's not a good thing to have so many millions of people, in fear of deportation.

[Guaguacoa]

10. Bingo. Correct on the first two points here in mexico.

The government is cracking down on the train riders and it's far more dangerous here in mexico. They are beaten, robbbed, raped and kidnapped all through mexico from the southern border to the north and that's by everyone from the police, military, regular civillians and narcos.

[Cleita]

2. All I can say is that we are terrible neighbors.

Will the Canadians treat us so poorly if the time arrives?

[jonjensen]

3. No amnesty for children then no amnesty for republicans.

Deport republicans to the north pole maybe they can ask santa clause for his papers!

[pampango]

4. Damn! Another 'red meat for the right wing' issue fades into the sunset. What is the right

supposed to use now to scare the base and get them riled up?

I know. I know. They are really, really good at shifting from one 'scary' issue to another. When your partisan success depends on fear, you spend a lot of time making sure that there are plenty of "liberal horrors" lined up to scare folks with.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

5. As the weather cools

I'm wondering if we will see an upsurge in the number of children crossing over.

[snappyturtle]

6. Yes, absolutely. Welcome to DU!

[pampango]

7. Could be. As liberals, most of us will wait and see what actually happens - what the facts are.

But then our goal is not to scare folks.

Weather could be part of it. (I imagine the right will claim the decline is totally due to the weather, not progress on the issue from a government led by the evil you-know-who. ) We will know soon enough. In the meantime I expect the "keep 'em scared" tacticians will move on to other issues.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

8. As a liberal, I hope the federal government is going to help defray the costs

Texas has taken in more children than any other state, and while we will get money for their room and board, will we be reimbursed for their education? The Dallas area, in particular, is taking a big hit, financially, to help these kids, and most will probably require a lot of services and remedial help.

[pampango]

9. I agree. The federal government should help with the costs. The whole country will benefit

in the long run from immigrants' work and talent (as it always has), not just Texas so the whole country should help with the costs.