Obama warns Central American leaders that child migrants will be deported


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."
Obama's counterparts said that the reason so many children are putting themselves at that risk is because violence stemming from illegal drug trafficking has made their home countries more dangerous than the journey north.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Washington must understand that if you have a Central America with violence because of the drug traffic crime, a Central America without opportunities, it is going to always be a problem for the United States," Juan Orlando Hernandez, president of Honduras, said through a translator.
More than 57,000 unaccompanied children have crossed the border since October, and the issue has divided Capitol Hill Democrats and Republicans.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin on August 1, with rates ranging from 25% to 40% on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration