NOTE: “Answers” emails have ended for the school year and will resume September 2nd.
Daily posting will end for the summer on June 13th and will resume August 25th.

NOTE TO STUDENTS:  The issue of the large number of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. is a controversial topic and one of children even more so. Remember that most of the people who come here do so to have the opportunity for a better life and for the freedom to make it happen.  But this is not an issue of being “unkind,” rather an issue of enforcing the law as well as preventing vulnerable children from putting themselves in harms way.  Those who enforce U.S. laws should not be accused of being unkind – they are being responsible.  And those who want to create programs to assist the children who get here illegally do so in the name of compassion.   People on both sides of this issue feel that they support the policies that are best for our country.  Speak courteously to one another on this topic.

1. By what percent has the number of children illegally crossing the border into the U.S. without parents increased over the past year?

2. Compare the number of children who were caught crossing the border illegally per year between 2008 and 2011, with 2012, 2013 and expected for this year. (find the answers in the article and “Background” below)

3. Describe how the Obama administration’s legal representation program for children who came to the U.S. illegally will work. (see para. 9-11)

4. How does the Obama administration’s lax enforcement of immigration law create a dangerous situation for Central American children attempting to come to the U.S. illegally? What types of dangers does this create for children who leave their homes in Central America?

5. The Obama administration announced Monday that it was designating a third U.S. military base in Fort Sill, Oklahoma as emergency housing for hundreds of children immigrating illegally to the U.S. without parents or relatives. What do you think of this solution?

6. Which of the following solutions to this crisis do you think would be best?

• enforce current immigration laws and publicize the fact in these countries that we are enforcing the laws
• throw out current immigration laws and open the borders to all comers
• Establish a program with the governments of all Central American countries that would fly kids apprehended illegally crossing the border back to their countries and put under the protective custody of their own governments. (Use the money that would be used for lawyers, housing, food, clothing, medical care to instead pay for flights home)

7. Consider the following:

• What message does the government’s current handling of the illegal immigration crisis send to those considering coming here illegally?
• What message does the government’s current handling of the illegal immigration crisis send to those who waited in line and came here legally?
• Who will care for the children who come here illegally and have no family here? (where will they find a home, schooling, medical care?)
• In defending the free attorney program for children who succeed in crossing the border illegally, Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement, “many of [these young people] are fleeing violence, persecution, abuse, or trafficking.” To be fair, should we invite all children from Syria, Nigeria, Sudan and other countries where they are facing the same and sometimes worse to come here? What about the children fleeing abuse or trafficking in Asian countries or the Middle East?
• What is the purpose of immigration laws?
• What is the best solution for our country (one which also treats the children with compassion)?