USA: Images of migrant surge likely to stoke debate, but not spark action say analysts

Record ID: 348938

  • Title: USA: Images of migrant surge likely to stoke debate, but not spark action say analysts
  • Date: 3rd July 2014
  • Summary: MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 1, 2014) (REUTERS) ANTI-IMMIGRATION PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS IN FRONT OF BUSES TRANSPORTING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS VARIOUS SHOTS OF ANTI-IMMIGRATION PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 3, 2014) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES LEGAL POLICY ANALYST JON FEERE SAYING: "I t
  • Embargoed: 18th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico, Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3UKCU7JO4WE3645LH0VR5AX4C
  • Story Text: Images showing a surge of illegal immigrants, including many unaccompanied minors, crossing the United States-Mexico border is sparking political discussion in Washington. But whether or not it will spur political change leading up to November's mid-term elections remains to be seen, according to analysts.

    "I think that both political parties want to avoid any type of immigration discussion prior to the midterms. I think this makes it much more difficult for them to avoid the issue and to the extent that immigration becomes part of the debate I think that's healthy because all too often these politicians just want to sweep it under the rug. They hope that if they wait long enough the issue will go away but it's not," says Jon Feere, a legal policy analyst for the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington.
    Monday (June 30) U.S. President Barack Obama called the surge of immigrants crossing the southern border of the United States a 'humanitarian crisis' and said more than $2 billion is needed to address the problem.
    An airplane carrying 140 undocumented immigrants who crossed the border in Texas arrived in San Diego Tuesday (July 1). The migrants, many of whom were children, were loaded on Homeland Security buses to be processed in Murrietta, but tensions were high as protesters carrying flags and signs turned them back.
    At a U.S. House field hearing in McAllen, Texas Thursday (July 3, 2014), Texas Republican Congressman Michael McCaul argued the Obama's flawed immigration policies are to blame for the recent influx of illegal immigrants in his state.
    Theresa Cardinal Brown, Immigration Policy Director at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington said the surge has already sparked political messaging from both parties and she believes political action could follow.

    "It's not outside the realm of possibility that the electoral forces actually drive people to pass legislation. They still have a lot of time left before Congress is out of session and they have now I think an action forcing event in what's happening in Texas. So something will probably happen. Again like I said, whether or not that will tackle any of the broader immigration issues remains to be seen."
    Experts say children and other illegal immigrants are leaving Central America in search of better jobs and to escape violence in their home countries.
    More than 52,000 unaccompanied children from Central America have been caught trying to sneak over the U.S.-Mexico border since October, double the number from the same period the year before, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures. Thousands more were apprehended with their parents.
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