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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRep.Luis Gutierrez Calls Out Xenophobia In Immigration Debate, Urges President Obama to Protect
A leading advocate of comprehensive immigration reform accused Republicans of disparaging the unaccompanied children crossing Americas Southwest border and called on the federal government to prioritize the interests of immigrant children in addressing with the current crisis.
During an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) stressed that immigrants are fleeing violence and torture, murder and rape and will continue to stream into America as long as those conditions exist and we dont fix our broken immigration system. Approximately 52,000 minors without their parents have been captured at the Southwest border since October of 2013.
There is American exceptionalism, I believe in it, Gutierrez said. I say we are the strongest, wealthiest, most powerful nation in the world, and children are coming to our borders, we should protect them.
The congressman urged the government to follow a 2008 anti-human trafficking law that extends protections to children entering the country alone who are not from Mexico or Canada by prohibiting them from being quickly sent back to their country of origin. Under the measure, children are afforded an immigration hearing and are placed in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interest of the child. Sometimes, they are reunited with family members.
Democrat Calls Out Xenophobia In Immigration Debate, Urges Obama To Protect Unaccompanied Children
http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2014/07/13/3459610/democrat-calls-out-gops-xenophobia-urges-obama-to-protect-unaccompanied-children/
According to Gutierrez, Louis Gohmert (R-Texas) "hasn't ever seen an immigrant who he hasn't thought was bringing disease to this country," and Steve King (R-Iowa) "always says they're criminals." But, Gutierrez added, both of these representatives voted for the 2008 law.
"When there were calmer times, level-headed people, we put the children's interests first," Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez also brushed aside the idea that border security needs to come first in dealing with the problem of children coming into the U.S. illegally.
"The border is secure! The fact is that these children are handing themselves over to the border patrol agents," Gutierrez said.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/13/luis-gutierrez-immigration_n_5582182.html
cal04
(41,505 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Have family in the USA.
Many of the USA family members are undocumented. I know I would never tolerate our government or Republicans sending children back to their home country ,when they have relatives right here in the United States.
I know many undocumented persons. Some have gone 10-20 years without being able to fly home to visit their families.
It is very easy for their family members in Central America and Mexico to get a visa to fly here to visit the undocumented Americans.
Impossible for American undocumented to visit their home country and their children ,then get back into the United States where they have a home ,a job and a life.
I don't know how it can be done but we're not going to send back children to die.
And we need to do something about our immigration system where so many millions of undocumented persons are treated like third rate citizens.
delrem
(9,688 posts)OK, stupid question -- every bloody day. And "immigration/xenophobia" is a big money favorite.
Another big money favorite is war fever, which the MSM has brought to perfection. The good people absorbing MSM propaganda can go from a 2-minutes of hate session aimed at X (and justifying "US intervention to save the people" to 2-minutes of hate for Y (and justifying "US intervention to save the people" in a matter of minutes, seconds even, and the same numb audience forgets the results of each occurrence just as quickly, if not quicker.
I don't even bother trying to make sense of what the absorbers of MSM propaganda product try to argue anymore, it's so irrational.
It's like listening to Sarah Palin 24/7.
pampango
(24,692 posts)and what they will/could do to the US.
"US" vs. "THEM" recycled continuously. It always seems to whip up emotion and fear rather than knowledge and understanding.