A working group formed by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is putting the final touches on a response to the ongoing border crisis that would include deploying the National Guard and providing more immigration judges. The group briefed the House GOP caucus earlier today and will likely make their final recommendations public before the end of the week.
The group, headed by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), visited both Guatemala and Honduras over the weekend and said both countries are eager to help repatriate newly-arrived illegal aliens.
"The presidents of both countries, I met with them, our group met with them, they want their children back," a member of the House working group, Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.), said. "They're saying, 'please, send our children back!'"
The group is recommending the deployment of the National Guard to help handle the processing of detained illegal aliens, freeing up Border Patrol to work on securing the border. Border Patrol agent Hector Garza told FoxNews this weekend that up to 70% of Border Patrol agents are filing paperwork instead of working to secure the border.
The proposal would also address the 2008 human trafficking law that says that Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) from noncontiguous countries must be processed and turned over to Health and Human Services unlike UACs from contiguous countries who are quickly deported. A change in the law would allow for more speedy deportations of newly-arrived UACs, however, they only comprise of about 20% of newly-arrived illegal aliens. Also, in order to be considered as a UAC, the child must not have a parent or legal guardian living in the United States.
The group will also recommend bringing temporary immigration judges to the border to help speed up the process. Illegal border crossers are given notices to appear, but because of backlogs, the court hearings are usually a year or two away, allowing for illegal aliens to settle into the United States. The group is also considering a border bill offered by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who also serves on the working group, but his legislation, H.R.1417, would actually weaken existing laws.
Boehner is hoping to bring legislation the House floor before the August recess.
For more information, see Breitbart News.
