25 July 2014
Last updated at 17:27 ET
US President Barack Obama (second from right) said more work remains to be done on the southern border crisis
The presidents of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador met Mr
Obama at the White House on Friday to discuss the crisis at the US
southern border.
More than 50,000 children, many unaccompanied, have been detained at the border since October.
Mr Obama said they must deter more children from attempting the journey.
"All of us recognise that we have a shared responsibility to address this problem," Mr Obama told reporters at the White House on Friday, flanked by Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina,
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and El Salvador President Salvador Sanchez Ceren.
He praised his Central American counterparts for their ongoing
efforts within their own nations to deter children from travelling
illegally to the US, but said more work must be done to combat the
"significant challenge" and alleviate the conditions that move parents
to send them on the perilous trip.
"We have to deter a continuing influx of children putting themselves at great risk," he said. But he said, "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."
The migrants - mostly from Central America - have been driven north by a spike in gang violence in their home countries, by extreme poverty, and amid incorrect rumours children will be allowed to stay if they make it across the border.
Also at issue is a 2008 US law that grants unaccompanied children from countries that do not border the US an automatic asylum hearing, thereby preventing their immediate removal from the country.
In his remarks, Mr Obama called on Republicans in Congress to postpone their upcoming August recess until they can approve legislation increasing funding to ease the crisis.
Earlier this month, his administration requested $3.7bn (£2.2bn) in emergency funds for tighter border security, care for the children, detention and removal programmes, and immigration courts.
Where the $3.7bn would go
But Republican lawmakers said they would not give Mr Obama a "blank cheque" without changes to US immigration policy.
Conservative politicians have blamed Mr Obama's immigration policy for the crisis, and some in the Congress have called for the repeal of the 2008 asylum law.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are developing an immigration proposal not to exceed $1.5bn, while Senate Democrats are floating one for $3.6bn to meet increased immigration and security needs.
"We need action and less talk," Mr Obama said of Congressional politicians, naming Republican House Speaker John Boehner in particular.
Obama: Migrant youths without claims will be sent home
TO SEE VIDEO:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28490544
US President Barack Obama (second from right) said more work remains to be done on the southern border crisis
President
Barack Obama has told Central American leaders that migrant children
flooding into the US without legitimate legal claims will be sent home.
More than 50,000 children, many unaccompanied, have been detained at the border since October.
Mr Obama said they must deter more children from attempting the journey.
"All of us recognise that we have a shared responsibility to address this problem," Mr Obama told reporters at the White House on Friday, flanked by Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina,
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and El Salvador President Salvador Sanchez Ceren.
"The only thing he said was that he was scared" - Rajini Vaidyanathan reports on America's illegal child migrants
"We have to deter a continuing influx of children putting themselves at great risk," he said. But he said, "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."
The migrants - mostly from Central America - have been driven north by a spike in gang violence in their home countries, by extreme poverty, and amid incorrect rumours children will be allowed to stay if they make it across the border.
Also at issue is a 2008 US law that grants unaccompanied children from countries that do not border the US an automatic asylum hearing, thereby preventing their immediate removal from the country.
In his remarks, Mr Obama called on Republicans in Congress to postpone their upcoming August recess until they can approve legislation increasing funding to ease the crisis.
Earlier this month, his administration requested $3.7bn (£2.2bn) in emergency funds for tighter border security, care for the children, detention and removal programmes, and immigration courts.
- $1.8bn to provide the appropriate care for unaccompanied children
- $1.1bn on detention and removal programmes
- $433m on border patrol and security
- $300m to Central American countries to repatriate and tackle root causes
- $64m on immigration courts, including hiring 40 additional judge teams
Conservative politicians have blamed Mr Obama's immigration policy for the crisis, and some in the Congress have called for the repeal of the 2008 asylum law.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are developing an immigration proposal not to exceed $1.5bn, while Senate Democrats are floating one for $3.6bn to meet increased immigration and security needs.
"We need action and less talk," Mr Obama said of Congressional politicians, naming Republican House Speaker John Boehner in particular.
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From other news sites
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Guardian.co.uk Central American leaders criticise US border policy 30 mins ago
-
Mail Online UK Obama hauls Central American leaders to White House to stop immigration flood 4 hrs ago
-
Sky News Obama Tackles Immigration Crisis In Summit 5 hrs ago
-
Financial Times* Central American leaders make border plea 11 hrs ago
-
Telegraph Central American leaders to meet with Barack Obama over immigration crisis 20 hrs ago
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