Obama Administration To Expand Program To Allow Central Americans To Enter U.S. As Refugees
Source: Huffington Post
Obama Administration To Expand Program To Allow Central Americans To Enter U.S. As Refugees
Officials say current efforts have gained traction.
07/26/2016 01:48 pm ET
WASHINGTON ― The Obama administration announced plans Tuesday to expand programs that allow Central Americans to come to the U.S. as refugees, acknowledging that the current system hasn’t stopped people from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras from entering the country without authorization.
The policy changes, which officials said will go into effect in the next few months, will not apply to all Central Americans seeking entry into the U.S. They will, however, expand eligibility for one key program, the Central American Minors program, and provide more assistance for vulnerable people who need to immediately escape their countries.
The Obama administration ramped up efforts to admit Central Americans as refugees after the number of unaccompanied minors and families arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border spiked in 2014. Many were seeking asylum from violence and gang activity in their home countries. In response, the administration increased aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras ― but also made the more controversial decision to pursue deportations and open new family immigrant detention centers.
After apprehensions of unaccompanied minors and families from Central America dropped in the 2015 fiscal year, they’re are up again this year ― a fact that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has used as a talking point. Apprehensions are still under fiscal year 2014 levels, however.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-administration-central-american-refugees_us_579770e5e4b0d3568f84835a
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