President Barack Obama is working to reform immigration, but he first must address the issues at the border between Texas and Mexico, which have been deemed a humanitarian and political crisis.
According to White House officials, Obama sent a team to Texas to determine the need for the U.S. National Guard’s presence. The team, made up of officials from the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, left for Texas on Tuesday and will be on the ground through Thursday to determine the severity of the situation.
While White House officials have resisted the move for some time, Republicans are calling for more security at the border. During a meeting with Texas Governor Rick Perry earlier this month, Obama said that he was open to deploying the National Guard only as a temporary solution.
More than 57,000 migrants from South America have traveled to the border since January, most of them minors. This year alone has also seen a 177 percent increase in the number of unaccompanied minors ages 12 and under traveling to the border as well.
And this journey is no walk in the park. Kids and families are threatened by the violence of drug traffickers, gang members, and robbers as they journey for a better life.
Obama is scheduled to meet with leaders from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala on Friday to discuss a solution for the influx of migrants to the U.S. from their respective countries.
We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
SOURCE: Reuters | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
