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(DHS Secretary) Jeh Johnson says 'no free pass' for children after border crossings
Moments after Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson took his first tour of a southern Arizona detention facility housing about 900 migrant children in makeshift cages Wednesday, he had a message for Central American parents who are on the brink of sending their children illegally and alone into the United States.
"This journey is a dangerous one, and at the end of it there is no free pass," he said. "There are no permisos for children, for your children, who come to the United States. The journey from Central America into south Texas is over a thousand miles long. It is hot. It is treacherous and you are placing your child in the hands of a criminal smuggling organization. It is not safe."
After walking through the facility with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, Johnson reiterated the warning in an attempt to dispel rumors that are contributing to the unprecedented wave of unaccompanied children who are illegally entering the U.S. through the Rio Grande Valley.
A surge of border crossers, about half of whom are unaccompanied children, has led to what many see as a humanitarian crisis. Faced with such increasing numbers, immigration officials transported some of them to Arizona for further processing, such as the children who are housed in Nogales.
...
"When your child comes here, they are given a notice to appear in a deportation proceeding," Johnson said in his message to parents.
"This journey is a dangerous one, and at the end of it there is no free pass," he said. "There are no permisos for children, for your children, who come to the United States. The journey from Central America into south Texas is over a thousand miles long. It is hot. It is treacherous and you are placing your child in the hands of a criminal smuggling organization. It is not safe."
After walking through the facility with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, Johnson reiterated the warning in an attempt to dispel rumors that are contributing to the unprecedented wave of unaccompanied children who are illegally entering the U.S. through the Rio Grande Valley.
A surge of border crossers, about half of whom are unaccompanied children, has led to what many see as a humanitarian crisis. Faced with such increasing numbers, immigration officials transported some of them to Arizona for further processing, such as the children who are housed in Nogales.
...
"When your child comes here, they are given a notice to appear in a deportation proceeding," Johnson said in his message to parents.
full: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-ff-arizona-immig-20140626-story.html
I'm happy he came out and stated the facts, in the wake of the right wing misinformation campaign about "OBAMA GIVING AWAY AMNESTY DERP!!!!!" Furthermore, Democracy Now! played video of Johnson stating:
My overall message is that it is not safe to send your child on the over 1,000-mile journey into Mexico, into South Texas. If you’re a parent considering doing this, DACA is not available for your child. Comprehensive immigration reform, the earned path to citizenship is not available for your child. It is a dangerous, dangerous journey.
