Representatives of the administration trump announced plans to start arresting people who are suspected of smuggling children in the United States. Human rights activists say that the decision has already resulted in panic in disadvantaged sectors of society.
The new initiative aims to stop the flow of people-smuggling and to identify and arrest adult sponsorswho pay so-called coyotes — the smugglers who transport children across the border into the United States.
The decision marks a sharp break from the policies in effect during the administration of President Barack Obama. In previous years 170,000 childrenfleeing the poverty, the tyranny of the gangs and drug abuse in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, have crossed the border and began a new life with the sponsors, who usually are parents, close relatives of these children or friends of the family. Sponsors were obliged to take care of the kids while they go to school and get legitimate legal status in immigration court.
Human rights activists say the decision to arrest the sponsors who have agreed to repay the road children, is extremely cruel. Without the support of these people, many of immigrant children would have been forced to reside in costly places of detention or in foster families, forcing the government to allocate huge funds.
Officials with immigration and customs enforcement U.S. do not report details on the number of sponsors who came under suspicion or has already been arrested, or what charges will be nominated by them in case of arrest. Human rights organizations say about the investigation of three arrests in Texas, new Jersey and Virginia that may be relevant to the sponsors.
Children whose sponsors were arrested will be transferred to the custody of another relative or guardian with legal status or be under the supervision of the office for refugee resettlement — the Federal Agency that assumes custody of unaccompanied minors. This was reported by press Secretary of immigration and customs enforcement Sarah Rodriguez.
