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Obama requests $3.7bn to fix border crisis | |
(35 minutes later) | |
President Barack Obama has asked Congress for $3.7bn (£2.2bn) in extra funding to tackle an immigration crisis at the southern border. | |
More than 50,000 unaccompanied children - most from Central America - have been caught trying to cross illegally between October and 15 June. | More than 50,000 unaccompanied children - most from Central America - have been caught trying to cross illegally between October and 15 June. |
The move comes amid Congressional gridlock over a wide-reaching bill to overhaul the immigration system. | The move comes amid Congressional gridlock over a wide-reaching bill to overhaul the immigration system. |
Mr Obama is set to meet local leaders in Texas over the issue on Wednesday. | Mr Obama is set to meet local leaders in Texas over the issue on Wednesday. |
But he has been criticised by members of both parties about not visiting the border personally during a primarily political fundraising trip to the southern state, which shares a lengthy border with Mexico. | But he has been criticised by members of both parties about not visiting the border personally during a primarily political fundraising trip to the southern state, which shares a lengthy border with Mexico. |
The emergency funding would include money for immigration judges, detention facilities and legal aid. | The emergency funding would include money for immigration judges, detention facilities and legal aid. |
But the White House is pursuing a separate legislative action to speed up the deportation processes, US media report. | But the White House is pursuing a separate legislative action to speed up the deportation processes, US media report. |
The administration has told Congress it was seeking "additional authority" to allow the Homeland Security secretary to more quickly return the minors back home. | The administration has told Congress it was seeking "additional authority" to allow the Homeland Security secretary to more quickly return the minors back home. |
But immigration advocates feared this meant children would lose the automatic right to a hearing before an immigration judge, and instead of would have to go through an initial screening with US border Patrol. | But immigration advocates feared this meant children would lose the automatic right to a hearing before an immigration judge, and instead of would have to go through an initial screening with US border Patrol. |
More than 200 groups signed a letter last week calling on Mr Obama to reconsider. | More than 200 groups signed a letter last week calling on Mr Obama to reconsider. |
Many of the recent arrivals are from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, which have seen a recent spike in gang violence. | Many of the recent arrivals are from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, which have seen a recent spike in gang violence. |
A 2008 law intended to combat human trafficking requires all children not from Mexico or Canada to have an immigration hearing instead of being sent back immediately. | A 2008 law intended to combat human trafficking requires all children not from Mexico or Canada to have an immigration hearing instead of being sent back immediately. |
On Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House believes most of the children arriving illegally will not have successful asylum cases. | On Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House believes most of the children arriving illegally will not have successful asylum cases. |
"It is unlikely that most of these kids will qualify for humanitarian relief," Mr Earnest said. | "It is unlikely that most of these kids will qualify for humanitarian relief," Mr Earnest said. |
"And what that means is, it means that they will not have a legal basis for remaining in this country and will be returned." | "And what that means is, it means that they will not have a legal basis for remaining in this country and will be returned." |
Republicans have blamed the surge of illegal crossings on an Obama administration policy that allows certain people who had arrived illegally as children to avoid deportation. | Republicans have blamed the surge of illegal crossings on an Obama administration policy that allows certain people who had arrived illegally as children to avoid deportation. |
But children arriving now are not eligible for this programme and would need to have a successful asylum application in order to stay. | But children arriving now are not eligible for this programme and would need to have a successful asylum application in order to stay. |
The Obama administration is making the appeal as legislators return from a week-long holiday recess, but it is unclear how they will react to the request. | The Obama administration is making the appeal as legislators return from a week-long holiday recess, but it is unclear how they will react to the request. |