The House working group that is tasked with studying and providing recommendations for the crisis unfolding at the southern border released a handful of preliminary recommendations following a meeting on Wednesday.
The working group, which is co-chaired by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), will provide its first update to the House GOP Conference on July 15.
In a joint statement, members of the group said they were “extremely concerned” about the well-being of the children who crossed the border alone and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.
“That is why the president must act to deter parents from encouraging their children to make this horrific and perilous journey based on the hope that they will be able to stay in the United States,” the legislators said. “The policies of the current administration have created the crisis we are currently facing at our southern border, and it will take presidential action to solve it.”
The legislators said they agree with the sentiment that the illegal immigrants must be returned to their home countries in the most humane way possible.
“That will require a revision of the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act,” the lawmakers said. “In addition, the fiscal year 2015 appropriations process is already under way in the House, which addresses resources related to the current crisis. The substantial increase of family units and unaccompanied children crossing the border has created an enormous strain on customs and border protection, as well as the border states and communities. It is critical we ensure that the border patrol is able to focus on protecting the borders of the United States.”
The members of the working group said they would continue to review the facts and gather information to develop a series of specific recommendations about what actions can be taken by the administration and Congress.