There’s a new sheriff in town but simply changing administrations doesn’t solve every problem. The U.S. border with Mexico and immigration in general have long been a political challenge. There hasn’t been any significant change in immigration law since the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. That in and of itself raises red flags. Immigration law has been left dormant far too long––problems and motivations evolve and change quickly.
President Joe Biden and his administration are still settling in, but that doesn’t matter. Issues need to be addressed. Some of the immigration procedures the Biden administration has dusted off are humanitarian based and moving forward. However, some seem to be biting off too much too fast.
There are families and individuals who want to come into the U.S., but, for now, the borders are closed. The vast majority of asylum seekers showing up at the border are turned away under the authority of Title 42, a Trump era policy that allows Border Patrol to expel undocumented migrants to prevent COVID spread. Biden is asking all refugees to wait. Thousands are not listening. Border Patrol is encountering more people migrating today than any time in the last 20 years. Mexico occasionally runs out of capability to take back those repelled by the U.S. Subsequently, some families are admitted into the U.S., quickly processed, COVID tested, and released. This may turn out to be the biggest mistake. Due to haste, often court dates are not scheduled and tracking information is scarce. These people will likely become among the numbers of undocumented people already staying in the U.S., adding to current immigration stress. The positive side is that these numbers are small. The conundrum is finding any other humane remedy.
The most pressing concern, both humanitarian and by sheer numbers, is the unaccompanied kids at the border. They get sent alone out of family desperation––fear of starvation or violent death. Parents believe adults will not be admitted, but children will. Until capacity and human resources for processing, adequate care, and vetting are in order, the kids shouldn’t be let in either. But, there is no other choice. Safety for the kids, maybe up to 25,000 a month during the spring months, outweighs any other legal concerns.
Here’s what happens: When the kids are presented at the border, Customs and Border Patrol takes them into their care. CBP currently has about 5,500 minors in custody with many more on the way. This is where most of the negative issues are encountered. It’s a logistical nightmare. There isn’t enough capacity to accommodate the demand. The kids are not supposed to be kept for more than 72 hours. The Biden administration is failing to follow those rules. Some stay in CBP facilities much longer in poor conditions. The facilities are jail-like, the kids are not COVID tested. The time needed to be certain quick, safe processing of child refugees was in place before the surge started was impossible to glean. Yet, kids need to be moved through this bottleneck.
The next step, transferring the kids into the care of the Department of Homeland Security, is working much better. The facilities are larger, better equipped, and staff is better trained for dealing with children. They are large enough to allow for outside recreation, regular meals, and a bed along with hygiene kits and new clothes. There are some 12,500 children in DHS custody. Shelters are close to capacity, but more space is coming on line every day so more kids can be accepted and quickly moved out of CBP care. The facilities will include vacant military bases where capacity is much greater. At this stage, all kids are COVID tested and the current 100-125 positive cases are isolated and being cared for. No kids are released to any U.S. families or foster care facilities without being COVID tested and healthy.
The need for speed is required at this stage too, but the tragic mistake would be going too fast. Most kids come with a phone number of a relative or family friend living in the U.S. who will take them in. These phone calls were slow in getting started, but are going more quickly today. The people on the other end of the phone need to be closely vetted, and that takes more time. The kids without a phone number or who do not know anyone take even longer to process. Any missteps in vetting caretakers could be catastrophic. So, creating DHS holding centers like camps with dorms, educators, medical personnel, and experts in child care is the good part of this scenario.
The truth is that the borders are closed. Only a few adult exceptions are being processed into the U.S. Those exceptions may turn out to be the biggest, but unavoidable, mistake. The situation of unaccompanied children is not solved, but the “kids in cages” era is gone. COVID riddled migrants are not flowing into our states. The government continues to work overtime to enact better, more complete solutions, including the best solution, which is to effect change at the root of the problem––the Central American Northern Triangle countries.
A wide range of immigration issues need concentrated efforts. But, the immediate action must be triage, and that means taking care of the kids.
Mike Stevens says
When Trump used cages built by Obama, there is outrage. When Biden stuffs them like sardines in WAY overfull in cages there is long drawn out explanations of how it’s ok now. The left’s hypocrisy has no bounds
Kids are in cages and there is a MASSIVE surge at the southern border!!!
Lee Harper says
100 %
Kelli Ann Robertson says
Agree 100% too – it is a hypocrisy.
Terry Donnelly says
Mr. Stevens, The long drawn out explanation is because there is a plan and action to report. My account says that there are kids in poor conditions, but every effort is being made to get them through the bottleneck of the dismantled border clearing stations in record time. The 72 hour child detention law is a goal that is getting closer. The Trump administration had no such plan and took no such action. You are right about the surge at the border but wrong about the cages. They are gone and replaced with plastic divisions for health safety. There is no doubt the CBP stations need to be improved or eliminated.
Mike Robertson says
Wouldn’t it be great if our country showed the same level of concern for its under-served citizen children that it does for these “asylum-seekers”…
Lee Harper says
100 %
Steven Balek says
I agree with you 100% Mike, our Children, Veterans and American Citizens come first. Maybe Mr. Donnelly would like to pay for and house all these Refuge Children that are storming our Southern Boarder.
Terry Donnelly says
We are doing both. The Relief Act is providing assistance that will bring one-half the children out of poverty. That will help in real time, but won’t last, so with the focus on underprivileged communities in the act, lasting help can be offered. Match those support efforts with the jobs that will be coming back as the economy betters, and the millions of jobs that will be created if the infrastructure plan in implemented and most of our families, including the kids will be much better off. Too bad we can’t wave a magic wand to make it happen sooner, but attention to specific areas of need and detail will get the job done.
Dennis E Cournoyer says
Being deaf and dumb is no excuse for ignorance. Yet the democratic party thinks the American people are just that.
How many “refugee children” will your family be housing Mr. Donnelly since you are so full of compassion, kindness and most of all your extreme professional knowledge regarding the southern boarder?
Charles Ratliff says
“The truth is the borders are closed”. What a fool you are Donnelly; you are so blinded by your
ideology you cannot see your nose. You write and write; but it is the scribblings of a fool. You need to just go away. And why do you send your diatribe to this fine community? For one, i do not need you or your opinions.
Sue Taylor says
Mr. Ratliff, I couldn’t agree with you more. This Mr. Donnelly was so critical of the Trump administration and gleeful when the imposter stole the election. Now he is trying to sugar coat the mess that the current occupant has created at the border. His campaign promises to the “illegals” was like waving a white flag and we, the legal citizens of the US, are paying the price. I also agree that he should send his opinions to the paper in Colorado, where he now lives? and leave us alone. He just likes to stir things up, I think.
William Bonney says
What universe are you living in pal?
Joan S Cooperman says
What a joke, MY grandson has not been in school for a year, and these illegals are being taught by teachers who will not teach in US schools because of the virus, bit they are teaching kids who have not been tested . They are being put up in hotels being paid with my tax dollars and fluong thejm all over the US with out being tested and thrown in when school starts again with my grandson who speaks English while these kids do not speak English and have had no schooling. Joie Boden is a disgrace to this country, and the borders are not closed they are lying to us and as I sid before in this paper I lived in San Diego for 12 years and had these drug dealers running thru my backyard and trying to steal our cars. Wake up American and do soimething
Gary says
Immigrants before veterans?
John Thompson says
WILD BILL, HERE ARE THE FACTS DUDE !! The claim: Vice President Kamala Harris laughed about migration struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border
Vice President Kamala Harris is facing criticism for what some say was an inappropriate response to the influx of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. On March 22, Harris laughed when asked if she planned to visit the border.
Some social media users have shared clips and memes of the interaction.
“Kamala Harris Laughs Hysterically When Asked If She Is Going To Visit The Border,” reads one meme posted to Facebook on March 23 by The Politcal Insider.
These posts do not show the full interaction and context in which she laughed. Before reporters asked Harris about her plans to visit the border, she had been answering questions about her agenda for her trip in Florida.
Jimmy Wike says
I think Mr Donnelly is a smart guy and is fully cognizant of the inequities of how the story is portrayed then vs now. My opinion is that aside from writing he just enjoys irritating a large segment of the Mesquite population based on political differences. He’s been pretty successful.
Michael Brown says
$70,000,000 has reportedly been appropriated to put up many of the illegals in San Diego area hotels. If we are going to spend tens of millions Mto house people in hotel rooms, it should be destitute/homeless Americans.
San Diego area school children have not had in-classroom instruction for a year – supposedly because the local school boards feel it is unsafe to return to the classroom. Now, it is reported that some area teachers are voluntarily teaching in person those children who showed up at our border by the thousands.
The Left became apoplectic whenever Trump uttered the words, “America First”.
I guess now the radicals are happy – we are just over 60 days into the Biden era – and now it is “America Last”.
David Petrillo says
Mr. Donnelly has it 100% correct. Nothing has changed at the border. Our President is an adult who is tackling an adult problem. He will not let kids starve at the border. He will reunite these kids with their families in the US. They will not hurt our economy but will only help it expand as we will need workers to rebuild our infrastructure. Our President is also a very Christian man and as such believes in compassion, empathy and charity. The US has rejoined the world community and we will thrive because of it. we did not become the richest country on earth by isolating ourselves. I do enjoy the comments as it tells me what Fox News is pushing. Be careful as propaganda can be addictive.
Dennis E Cournoyer says
WOW!
Lee Harper says
WOW AND WOW
Mesquite Citizen Journal says
To all of you,
You’re doing a good job so far but I will caution all of you to stay on topic and not denigrate a particular person because they disagree – or agree – with you.
I enjoy a vigorous debate on the issues. Debate the issue not the person.
Barbara Ellestad
Publisher/Editor