Rep. Sean Duffy, Wisconsin Republican, said Tuesday that the unaccompanied minors who crossed the border must be sent back to their home country so more children don’t embark on the dangerous journey seeking amnesty.
“They’re being maimed, they’re being killed, they’re being raped along this journey,” Mr. Duffy said on MSNBC. “If we can modify the law and get these kids healthy and send them back to their parents, what it does is send a message to these parents in Central America: if you send your kids, they’re not going to get amnesty.”
He said sending the children back to their parents is the only way to ensure other minors don’t attempt the journey, where they’re often lead by drug cartels of gang members across the border.
“We’re going to have kids’ lives risked time and time again,” he said.
Since violence hasn’t increased in Central America, Mr. Duffy said President Obama’s statements on amnesty for some who entered the U.S. illegally as children are the cause of this influx of minors crossing the border.
“The real change has been the statements made by the president and the perception given to these Central American countries and families,” he said.
• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.
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