Is it possible to curb illegal immigration to the U.S.?

Refugee and Migrant Crisis

The United States is under increasing pressure to figure out what to do about the wave of child immigrants from Central America who are seeking asylum at record numbers. President Barack Obama has asked Congress for $3.7 billion to deal with the crisis, with Republicans and Democrats offering competing proposals on how the money should be spent, earlier he met with the presidents of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, to urge them to stem the wave of migrants heading to the United States. CCTV America’s Natalie Feary reports.

Gloria Carcamo says she’s living the American Dream. A recent college graduate, the 22-year-old plans to become a journalist. But her journey to the U.S. was itself a riveting story. At 14, she and her sister fled Honduras. It took three weeks for Gloria and her sister to make it to the United States.

The Carcomo sisters were among the lucky ones to be allowed to stay in the country.

Since October, 50,000 children from Central America have crossed the U.S. border without their parents. Some lawmakers want to send them back without delay even if they have a viable claim to remain in the United States, which is why the United Nations High Commission for Refugees wants to ensure young people leaving Central America are given the chance to tell their story, and make the case that they are entitled to refugee status.

For this to happen the High Commission For Refugees says the U.S. needs to see the issue as humanitarian, not political. Human rights advocates say not doing so could violate international law.
As for Gloria, she knows more than anyone that deporting these minors is not a solution.

And there appears to be no quick fix. Crime and gang violence in Honduras show no signs of easing. So the flow of migrants fleeing from the bloodshed will likely continue.

Is it possible to curb U.S. illegal migration

The United States is under increasing pressure to figure out what to do about the wave of child migrants from Central America who are seeking asylum at record numbers. President Barack Obama has asked the U.S. Congress for 3.7 billion dollars to deal with the crisis, with Republicans and Democrats offering competing proposals on how the money should be spent . Earlier he met with the presidents of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, to urge them to stem the wave of migrants heading to the US. CCTV America's Natalie Feary reports.

For more on the meeting and its impact on the immigration debate. We’re joined by Laura Carlsen in Mexico City. She’s the Director of the Mexico City based Americas Program at the Center for International Policy.

Laura Carlsen on the immigration crisis

For more on the meeting and its impact on the immigration debate. We're joined by Laura Carlsen in Mexico City. She's the Director of the Mexico City based Americas Program at the Center for International Policy.