New photos released by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) from his recent visit to the Rio Grande Valley border patrol sector in Texas reveals more details on the ongoing surge of illegal border crossings. Contrary to statements from the Obama Administration, saying the surge is of mostly women and children trying to escape violence in Central America, the pictures show a pretty even mix of women, children, and working-aged men who have been detained by Border Patrol officers.
Rep. Cuellar's office interviewed some of the unaccompanied minors who are in the Border Patrol's detention facility, and while some cite violence as their reason for coming, many others also say they came to study and/or to be reunited with family living in the United States. Several media reports also indicate that a source of the influx of illegal border crossers is due to the Administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy and its unwillingness to enforce immigration laws.
Here are the pictures released by Rep. Cuellar and posted on BusinessInsider.com:
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
Courtesy Rep. Henry Cuellar's office
