Thank
you
for
contacting
me
about
the
recent
increase
of
unaccompanied
minors
crossing
into
our
nation.
I
appreciate
you
talking
the
time
to
share
your
thoughts
with
me.
We
need
an
immigration
system
that
is
reflective
of
both
our
needs
and
our
values.
Our
nation's
immigration
laws
are
outdated
and
broken
–
there
are
an
estimated
11
million
undocumented
immigrants
in
the
United
States
and
we
are
seeing
a
significant
influx
of
minors
seeking
to
enter
our
country.
We
need
a
modern
immigration
system
that
will
safeguard
America's
security
and
prosperity.
The
system
of
legal
immigration
needs
to
work
better
to
make
illegal
immigration
less
attractive.
In
my
view,
that
requires
Congress
to
move
forward
in
a
bipartisan
way
on
comprehensive
immigration
reform.
The
number
of
unaccompanied
children
illegally
crossing
America's
borders
has
grown
from
less
than
8,000
in
2012
to
24,688
in
2013.
Now
it
is
expected
that
over
60,000
unaccompanied
children
will
enter
the
country
this
year.
Reports
suggest
that
human
trafficking
and
increasing
violence
and
persecution
in
their
native
countries
(Guatemala,
El
Salvador,
Honduras,
and
Mexico)
may
be
responsible
for
the
increasing
number
of
unaccompanied
minors
making
the
dangerous
journey
to
the
United
States.
Notably,
the
total
percentage
of
unaccompanied
children
coming
to
the
United
States
from
Mexico
has
decreased
over
time
while
children
from
Central
American
nations
have
increased
dramatically.
Not
surprisingly,
these
nations
rank
among
the
highest
in
the
world
in
rates
of
gang
activity,
drug
related
crime,
and
other
violence.
I
do
believe
there
is
value
in
working
with
other
nations
to
address
some
of
the
root
causes
of
why
these
kids
are
coming
to
the
U.S.
in
the
first
place.
With
that
in
mind,
addressing
issues
of
poverty
and
the
lack
of
the
rule
of
law
in
these
nations
is
important.
People
need
to
be
able
to
thrive
in
their
own
communities.
Parents
cannot
feel
so
desperate
that
they
allow
their
kids
to
travel
unaccompanied
to
America
or
anyplace
else
–
often
in
the
hands
of
a
criminal
network.
With
that
mind,
I
support
the
bipartisan
proposals
to
provide
financial
assistance
to
Central
American
countries
to
assist
in
the
repatriation
of
deportees,
to
improve
prosecution
of
criminal
street
gang
members,
and
to
reduce
gang
recruitment.
It's
also
why
I
support
increased
border
security
as
a
component
of
comprehensive
immigration
reform.
That
is
why
I
have
joined
with
more
than
180
of
my
colleagues
and
cosponsored
H.R.
15,
the
Border
Security,
Economic
Opportunity,
and
Immigration
Modernization
Act.
It
would
provide
comprehensive
reform
and
is
similar
to
legislation
the
Senate
passed.
As
a
father,
I
sympathize
with
the
humanitarian
aspect
of
the
rapidly
increasing
number
of
unaccompanied
children.
Under
existing
law,
children
from
Mexico
apprehended
at
or
near
the
border
may
be
returned
immediately,
while
children
from
other
nations
are
placed
under
the
care
of
the
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services
(HHS).
HHS
is
charged
with
ensuring
that
they
are
fed,
provided
a
safe
place
to
sleep,
and
eventually
placed
with
caring
and
responsible
adult
supervision
while
awaiting
a
decision
on
their
immigration
status.
Given
the
increasing
number
of
arrivals,
HHS
has
requested
assistance
from
the
Department
of
Defense
to
lease
unused
barracks
for
the
temporary
housing
of
unaccompanied
minors
awaiting
placement,
as
was
done
in
2012
for
the
same
purpose.
As
a
member
of
the
House
Armed
Services
Committee,
I
share
the
general
concern
with
the
use
of
military
facilities
to
temporarily
house
unaccompanied
children
given
possible
readiness,
training,
and
mission
impacts.
However,
the
Department
of
Defense
has
worked
with
the
military
services
to
identify
unused
barracks
that
may
be
used
without
impacting
our
military
readiness,
training,
and
mission.
HHS
will
ensure
that
the
children
will
not
have
any
access
to
the
base
outside
of
their
designated
area,
and
all
children
will
be
vaccinated
and
will
be
medically
screened
prior
to
entry.
I
further
understand
that
no
military
personnel
will
be
used
to
secure
or
care
for
the
children
in
HHS
care.
I
think
that
it's
a
travesty
that
so
many
children
are
crossing
international
borders
seeking
refuge.
This
is
a
humanitarian
crisis
and
should
be
a
wakeup
call
to
Congress
to
finally
take
action
on
these
issues.
I
will
continue
to
closely
monitor
the
use
of
military
facilities
for
this
purpose
and
urge
the
Administration
to
identify
other
ways
we
can
address
this
pressing
need.
What's
more,
I
will
be
sure
to
keep
your
thoughts
in
mind
as
Congress
debates
this
issue
in
the
future.
I
encourage
you
to
continue
to
share
your
views
with
me
on
this
topic
or
any
other
issue.
Thank
you
for
reaching
out.
It
is
an
honor
to
serve
as
your
representative.
Sincerely,
Derek Kilmer
Member of Congress
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