It Was George W. Bush Who Allowed More Undocumented Kids In, Obama Who Wants Them Quickly Deported
It was a 2002 law that was reauthorized in 2008 that provided special care for children coming into the United States from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, while more quickly deporting Mexican children, giving them fewer protections. This was a humane move by George W. Bush. President Obama, accused by the right of allowing porous borders, is the one who wants to clamp down on the Central American kids now, treating them the way we’ve been treating those from Mexico.
Under a 2002 human trafficking law signed by former President George Bush and reauthorized again in 2008 with additional protections, Mexican unaccompanied children apprehended crossing the border are automatically returned without formal deportation proceedings because the two countries share a border. But unaccompanied children from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala cannot be sent back without going through the deportation process, since that law ensured that America wouldn’t send kids back to a dangerous situation. (Honduras, for example, has experiences increased gang violence in 40 percent of its territory, while violence against females is surging in Guatemala.) Authorities must instead process these children and determine whether they have credible proof that they cannot return to their countries of origin. Central American children are given basic care like medical screenings in processing centers before being placed with relatives or foster care until they can appear in front of immigration judges.
On Monday, President Obama plans to send a letter asking Congress to authorize $2 billion to speed up the deportation proceedings of unaccompanied children. More details of the plan will be sussed out when Congress comes back from its Fourth of July recess.
These undocumented children (I refuse to call them “illegal”) should be regarded as refugees, not criminals. And President Obama, who gets criticized by the right for being too lenient, is the one whose crackdown on the undocumented has resulted in more deportations than in the previous administration.
M D Reese July 6th, 2014 at 12:43 pm
The right wingers of today don’t give a damn where these refugees are coming from or why. Even Bush 43 had a clue. Not a big clue, but a clue none the less.
Steve Scholl July 6th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Now the rightwingers can turn around and accuse Obama of being callous for deporting undocumented children. Win win.
Denise July 6th, 2014 at 4:22 pm
I love how the RW’s are trying desperately not to mention good ole g. w. bush as being responsible for this. they go off topic everytime, or, as congressman Labrador said, ,”change the law.” that’s the gop answer to every law they do not like: repeal and change, that’s it.
Weeble1150 July 6th, 2014 at 10:53 pm
The reauthorization bill was passed on 12/10/08 (*after* the election) by a Democrat-controlled House, and a Democrat-controlled Senate (remember those good old times?). It was signed by Bush on 12/23/08. So even though it was passed by Democrats, it somehow becomes “Bush did it”! The reauthorization was for three years, so it expired in 2011.
What has happened since 2011 to cause the sudden surge in child illegal entrants. Could it be the Deferred Action Program executive order issued by President Obama?
Denise July 7th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
a bill cannot become law unless the president signs it. that means he owns it.
Tommy6860 July 6th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
The GOP conveniently omits one big fact, that the Obama admin has deported more undocumented, than any other president and at an even faster rate (I could be wrong on the “more” part”). And among the non-thinking protesters, the deportations aren’t fast enough for their racism.
Dwendt44 July 6th, 2014 at 5:28 pm
You are not wrong about the more part. He’s on track to deport twice as many undocumented as Bush did by the time he leaves office if not before.
Progressive Republican July 14th, 2014 at 8:59 pm
That’s why “reality” and “ideology” are spelled differently.
Dwendt44 July 6th, 2014 at 5:28 pm
Since when has facts entered into the right wing talking points?
Weeble1150 July 6th, 2014 at 10:43 pm
The definition of “deport” has changed under this administration. It used to be that “deport” meant catching an illegal entrant, holding them, going through the legal hassles, and sending him back. Now, “deport” includes all of the above plus those who are caught at the border and sent right back over the line. Hence more “deportations” now than before.