President Barack Obama and the presidents of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador met at the White House on Friday to discuss an ongoing crisis at the United States border with Mexico. While Obama expressed sympathy for the thousands of unaccompanied children attempting to cross the border, he warned the Central American leaders that those apprehended would be deported back to their home countries, barring legitimate humanitarian claims.
"Children who do not have proper claims and families with children who do not have proper claims at some point will be subject to repatriation to their home countries," Obama said in a press conference covered by The New York Times. "The American people and my administration have great compassion for these children and want to make sure that they are cared for, but I also emphasized to my friends here that we have to deter a continuing influx of children putting themselves at great risk."
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