USA: U.S. works to secure border amid child immigrant crisis

Record ID: 174225

  • Title: USA: U.S. works to secure border amid child immigrant crisis
  • Date: 24th June 2014
  • Summary: HIDALGO, OAXACA, MEXICO (JUNE 18, 2014) (FILE) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT OF TRAIN WITH MIGRANTS ON TOP CROSSING BRIDGE VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS TRAVELLING ON TOP OF TRAIN VARIOUS OF YOUNG BOY TRAVELLING SITTING ON TOP OF TRAIN BOY CLIMBING DOWN TRAIN PEOPLE WALKING ALONGSIDE TRAIN
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA625NZEWNOM2EN66Z3MO6HGACQ
  • Story Text: Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told Congress on Tuesday (June 24) the United States is working hard to deal with the flood of undocumented children, mostly from Central America, crossing into the United States. These efforts include sending more troops, increasing space for detention centers, and working with the governments of the neighboring countries.
    "We are creating additional detention space for adult who bring their children, and I want to consider every option for stemming this tide." Johnson said in his testimony.
    One hundred and fifteen experienced agents have been sent from less active areas to the Rio Grande Valley, and a further 150 may join them, based on a review of operations there last week, Johnson said in testimony prepared for a congressional hearing on Tuesday.
    In the fiscal year through September 2013, U.S. agents picked up more than 24,000 unaccompanied children at the southern border.
    From October to mid-June this year, that number more than doubled to over 52,000, and U.S. authorities have been grappling with how best to deal with the crisis.
    "We are talking about large numbers of children, without their parents, who have arrived at our border - hungry, thirsty, exhausted, scared and vulnerable. How we treat the children, in particular, is a reflection of our laws and our values," Johnson said.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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