Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) recently led a bipartisan delegation from the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on a fact-finding mission to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala “to assess root causes of the surge in migration as well as U.S. and local efforts to address the crisis.” An extensive report on the mission can be found here, but Issa took to Twitter today to post impressions as well as some photos from the trip.
In each country we visited, gov officials, religious leaders, & NGOs reported severe lack of economic opportunity as a primary motivation.
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
They also described a common story that parents who migrated to US, often illegally, send for their children to join them.
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
In a gang prevention program in El Salvador, about half of the forty 10 yo kids raised hands when asked who had parents & relatives in US
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
All of those same children raised their hands when asked if they wanted to go to the U.S. someday. pic.twitter.com/AkgH0rGfUu
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
The visible lack of deportations to Central American countries lend credibility to human smugglers, "coyotes" …
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
Coyotes try to convince would-be customers that new U.S. policies will allow children to stay in the U.S.
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
The coyotes even use Facebook and Twitter to promote their "services."
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
We saw centers set up for returning children that sit empty. pic.twitter.com/o9TEWBXTze
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
It’s only one photo, but it sure looks better than this:
People in Central America are keenly aware that only a small portion of kids who make it to US have been repatriated pic.twitter.com/NRKbJjWo5q
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
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To help address this crisis, the US needs to make clear that illegal immigration is not rewarded.
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
Both in word and deed, US officials need to do much more to correct the perception that migrants will be able to stay–legally or illegally.
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
US must streamline its deportation process
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
US officials must consistently articulate that illegal immigrants won't be allowed to stay if they do not meet strict asylum criteria
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
These illegal border crossings are incredibly dangerous.
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
Govs of El Salvador, Honduras, & Guatemala must undertake further efforts to educate children & families about perilous journey to the US
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) July 22, 2014
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