In what is sure to have Republicans up in arms, President Obama will not visit the U.S.-Mexican border during his two-day trip to Texas. He will instead be meeting with Governor Rick Perry in Dallas to discuss the immigration crisis the country has been facing. Obama had recently asked Congress for a $3.7 billion emergency-spending package to be distributed to the overburdened border. He hopes within the following two days a more concrete plan will come together.
Obama administration officials have told the Senate they believe the president has continued to act aggressively against illegal immigration.
“Although we have made progress, that progress is oftentimes disrupted when we see sudden influxes of kids coming in faster than we can discharge them, and we back up,” Craig Fugate, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, explained in front of the Senate, according to the Associated Press.
Though tens of thousands of children immigrants have poured into the U.S. in the past few months, the White House has already explained that many will end up back in their home countries. While violence and poverty have driven many to seek shelter in the U.S., White House officials continue to say that the majority of these children will not qualify for humanitarian aid.
Republicans of course have criticized the president for, in their eyes, doing practically nothing. Sen. John McCain argued that notices to appear in court are set so far in the future that many illegal immigrants have the opportunity to stay.
“Your odds are pretty good. There is ample incentive for them to come to this country,” the senator stated. Obama’s decision to not visit the border during his trip will only provide Republicans with more ammunition.
They have already chastised the president for his discontinuation to pursue legislation that would allow the U.S. to deport illegal youths more quickly. Immigration advocates argued the proposed laws would allow mistreatment of children and revoke their protection.
Republicans believe Obama is responsible for the current crisis due to a 2012 decision to allow some children brought into the U.S. illegally to stay. President Obama has already announced he will seek executive action to move forward on the matter despite the stalled talks by Republicans in the Senate.
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