Amid immigrant influx at border, Midlands lawmakers repeat support for 2008 law child trafficking

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/amid-immigrant-influx-at-border-midlands-lawmakers-repeat-support-for/article_e521b05c-3ece-55b7-8fcd-9825e39823e8.html

POSTED: SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014 1:00 AM
By Joseph Morton / World-Herald Bureau

WASHINGTON — A 2008 law aimed at child trafficking is getting blamed for complicating the U.S. response to a flood of unaccompanied children from Central American countries, but Rep. Jeff Fortenberry is standing by his previous strong support for the measure.

“That was a very important bill,” the Nebraska Republican told The World-Herald. “Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, and the United States needs to project our conscience and our values in this regard, and I’m very proud of that effort.”

The law — which was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support — provides various procedural protections for children who enter the country alone from countries other than Mexico or Canada. For example, they are entitled to an immigration hearing and consultation with an advocate. In the meantime, their care falls under the Department of Health and Human Services, which places them with sponsors or relatives.

In practice, the law often allows children to stay in the U.S. for years as their cases wend their way through the badly backlogged immigration court system, and often they don’t show up for their court dates.

FULL story at link.

[Louisiana1976]

1. The Obama Administration should abide by this law instead of summarily deporting

the refugee children.