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Why are so many children trying to cross the US border? Why are so many children trying to cross the US border?
(about 1 hour later)
President Barack Obama is under pressure to fix the immigration crisis growing on the south-west border of the United States, as thousands of children enter the country unaccompanied.President Barack Obama is under pressure to fix the immigration crisis growing on the south-west border of the United States, as thousands of children enter the country unaccompanied.
The crisis has pushed a simmering debate about immigration into the US back into the spotlight as the US border system creaks under the strain.The crisis has pushed a simmering debate about immigration into the US back into the spotlight as the US border system creaks under the strain.
The issue has become a political cudgel on both sides as the president and the Republican opposition argue over how to respond and the root causes of the crisis.The issue has become a political cudgel on both sides as the president and the Republican opposition argue over how to respond and the root causes of the crisis.
What is happening?What is happening?
Thousands of children have been caught trying to illegally cross the south-western American border after migrating from across Central America.Thousands of children have been caught trying to illegally cross the south-western American border after migrating from across Central America.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, 52,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended since October. President Barack Obama has called the issue a "humanitarian crisis".According to the US Department of Homeland Security, 52,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended since October. President Barack Obama has called the issue a "humanitarian crisis".
Many children are being held in crowded detention centres, including makeshift warehouses, while US officials struggle to hold deportation hearings fast enough.Many children are being held in crowded detention centres, including makeshift warehouses, while US officials struggle to hold deportation hearings fast enough.
Child immigrants creating US border crisisChild immigrants creating US border crisis
Why is it happening?Why is it happening?
Immigration to the US from Mexico and Central America has long been driven by economic difficulties and violence in home countries.Immigration to the US from Mexico and Central America has long been driven by economic difficulties and violence in home countries.
But recent spike of gang and drug-related violence in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have increased the flow of migrants from those countries. But a recent spike of gang and drug-related violence in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have increased the flow of migrants from those countries.
Critics of the Obama administration also point to a US policy that allowed some who had previously arrived in American illegally to stay without the fear of deportation. But newly-arrived children are not eligible.Critics of the Obama administration also point to a US policy that allowed some who had previously arrived in American illegally to stay without the fear of deportation. But newly-arrived children are not eligible.
And lengthy deportation processes, especially when children are sent to wait with relatives already in the US, have contributed to the belief that some are being allowed to stay permanently.And lengthy deportation processes, especially when children are sent to wait with relatives already in the US, have contributed to the belief that some are being allowed to stay permanently.
The White House has argued those who transport children across the border for a fee have abused such misunderstandings to drum up business.The White House has argued those who transport children across the border for a fee have abused such misunderstandings to drum up business.
"The criminal smuggling organisations are putting out a lot of disinformation about supposed free passes," homeland security Secretary Jeh Johnson told broadcaster NBC."The criminal smuggling organisations are putting out a lot of disinformation about supposed free passes," homeland security Secretary Jeh Johnson told broadcaster NBC.
In a wider sense, both political parties agree the US immigration system is need of reform, but have been at odds for years about how to change it.In a wider sense, both political parties agree the US immigration system is need of reform, but have been at odds for years about how to change it.
A sweeping bill that would have allowed a path to citizenship for approximately 11 million people living in the country illegally passed the Senate but is not expected to see a vote in the House.A sweeping bill that would have allowed a path to citizenship for approximately 11 million people living in the country illegally passed the Senate but is not expected to see a vote in the House.
Life either side of US-Mexico borderLife either side of US-Mexico border
How is the US responding?How is the US responding?
The administrated has ramped up a public outreach campaign to address the misinformation, including sending Vice-President Joe Biden to meet Guatemalan leaders, interviews with Spanish-language media and introducing graphic adverts to highlight the dangers of border crossing.The administrated has ramped up a public outreach campaign to address the misinformation, including sending Vice-President Joe Biden to meet Guatemalan leaders, interviews with Spanish-language media and introducing graphic adverts to highlight the dangers of border crossing.
Mr Obama has pledged to direct border resources towards the southern border, effectively meaning more deportations for those who have recently crossed the US border illegally or who are considered dangerous, but fewer deportations for those in the interior of the country.Mr Obama has pledged to direct border resources towards the southern border, effectively meaning more deportations for those who have recently crossed the US border illegally or who are considered dangerous, but fewer deportations for those in the interior of the country.
In addition to the transfer of staffing south, Mr Obama said he was directing the secretary of homeland security and the US attorney general to come up with recommendations about what he could do within his presidential powers to improve the US immigration system.In addition to the transfer of staffing south, Mr Obama said he was directing the secretary of homeland security and the US attorney general to come up with recommendations about what he could do within his presidential powers to improve the US immigration system.
Those recommendations are expected to be delivered by the end of summer.Those recommendations are expected to be delivered by the end of summer.
The White House is also expected to request funding for an additional $2bn (£1.2bn) to hire more immigration judges and open additional detention facilities.The White House is also expected to request funding for an additional $2bn (£1.2bn) to hire more immigration judges and open additional detention facilities.
In addition, an earlier law intended to address human trafficking prevents the US from returning children who are not from Mexico and Canada to their home country without a deportation hearing.In addition, an earlier law intended to address human trafficking prevents the US from returning children who are not from Mexico and Canada to their home country without a deportation hearing.
The large majority of the children detained in the past few months are not from countries immediately bordering the US, and the Obama administration says it wants more flexibility with this policy.The large majority of the children detained in the past few months are not from countries immediately bordering the US, and the Obama administration says it wants more flexibility with this policy.
Obama shifts resources to US borderObama shifts resources to US border
Is its enough?Is its enough?
It is too early to tell if the Obama administration's public outreach campaign is having an effect.It is too early to tell if the Obama administration's public outreach campaign is having an effect.
Mr Johnson has said the increased border resources have begun to help lessen the strain but the that the administration was "looking at ways to create additional options for dealing with the children in particular".Mr Johnson has said the increased border resources have begun to help lessen the strain but the that the administration was "looking at ways to create additional options for dealing with the children in particular".
But the immediate response has frustrated residents along the border.But the immediate response has frustrated residents along the border.
Last week, people shouting slogans and waving US flags blocked three buses carrying undocumented Central American families to a border patrol station in Murrieta, California.Last week, people shouting slogans and waving US flags blocked three buses carrying undocumented Central American families to a border patrol station in Murrieta, California.
The migrants had been flown to San Diego from Texas, where facilities report overcrowding after a surge in arrivals. Protesters blamed the US government for not "enforcing the border".The migrants had been flown to San Diego from Texas, where facilities report overcrowding after a surge in arrivals. Protesters blamed the US government for not "enforcing the border".
Republicans have blamed Mr Obama for not doing more to prevent an immigration crisis, but the US president has argued Republicans have blocked any immigration reform in Congress.Republicans have blamed Mr Obama for not doing more to prevent an immigration crisis, but the US president has argued Republicans have blocked any immigration reform in Congress.
US protesters block migrant busesUS protesters block migrant buses