Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, who is under pressure at home not to seal a migration deal with the United States, on Sunday called off White House talks with Donald Trump with just a day to spare, his office announced.

The meeting scheduled for Monday in Washington has been pushed back over "speculation" about the signing of a possible deal, the Guatemalan government said in a statement.

Such a deal would make Guatemala a "safe third country" -- and mean that it would be obliged to offer asylum to any migrants entering its territory on the way to the United States.

Many migrants from Honduras and El Salvador cross Guatemala to reach Mexico on their route to the US border.

The Guatemalan government had announced Morales' visit last week, saying it would touch on immigration and security issues, but never offered details about what Trump and Morales would discuss.

Guatemalan officials did acknowledge that talks on a "safe third country" agreement were underway, leading to swirling speculation.

Those opposed to such a deal say they don't want Guatemala to become a dumping ground for migrants heading to the United States, especially given that Guatemalans are often part of the group making the journey.

The country's constitutional court was expected on Sunday to consider three legal challenges over the deal, which has been rejected by the two candidates vying for Guatemala's presidency next month.

Centre-left former first lady Sandra Torres will face off against conservative candidate Alejandro Giammattei on August 11 for the right to succeed Morales in January.

In March, Trump's administration suspended aid to the "Northern Triangle" countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras after the Republican leader said they were doing nothing to stem the flow of migrants to the US.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, who is under pressure at home not to seal a migration deal with the United States, on Sunday called off White House talks with Donald Trump with just a day to spare, his office announced.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, who is under pressure at home not to seal a migration deal with the United States, on Sunday called off White House talks with Donald Trump with just a day to spare, his office announced. The meeting scheduled for Monday in Washington has been pushed back over "speculation" about the signing of a possible deal, the Guatemalan government said in a statement. Such a deal would make Guatemala a "safe third country" -- and mean that it would be obliged to offer asylum to any migrants entering its territory on the way to the United States. Many migrants from Honduras and El Salvador cross Guatemala to reach Mexico on their route to the US border. The Guatemalan government had announced Morales' visit last week, saying it would touch on immigration and security issues, but never offered details about what Trump and Morales would discuss. Guatemalan officials did acknowledge that talks on a "safe third country" agreement were underway, leading to swirling speculation. Those opposed to such a deal say they don't want Guatemala to become a dumping ground for migrants heading to the United States, especially given that Guatemalans are often part of the group making the journey. The country's constitutional court was expected on Sunday to consider three legal challenges over the deal, which has been rejected by the two candidates vying for Guatemala's presidency next month. Centre-left former first lady Sandra Torres will face off against conservative candidate Alejandro Giammattei on August 11 for the right to succeed Morales in January. In March, Trump's administration suspended aid to the "Northern Triangle" countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras after the Republican leader said they were doing nothing to stem the flow of migrants to the US.

Guatemala president Jimmy Morales calls off US meeting with Donald Trump

Vice President Mike Pence viewed an overcrowded, foul-smelling facility in Texas on Friday where nearly 400 men are detained after being accused of crossing the US border illegally.

Some 384 single men were corralled behind metal fences inside the sweltering facility in McAllen, according to a pool reporter on the scene. The men did not have mats or pillows and some were sleeping on concrete.

The cages were so crowded, according to the reporter, that it would have been impossible for all the men to lie down at the same time.

Some of the men said that they had been there for 40 days or longer, were hungry and wanted to brush their teeth. Some agents guarding the cages wore face masks.

Water was available outside the fences, the pool reporter said, citing agents who said the men had access to the water when journalists were not present.

After visiting the facility, Pence said at a news conference that he was not surprised by what he saw.

"I knew we'd see a system that was overwhelmed," Pence told reporters. "This is tough stuff."

A patrol agent, Michael Banks, said the men were allowed to brush their teeth once a day. "We currently have 88,000 toothbrushes," he said.

Many of the men had not showered for 10 to 20 days because the facility did not previously have showers, according to Banks, who said it now had a trailer shower. Banks said the longest any man had been at the facility was 32 days.

The men were given three hot meals a day from local restaurants but could not have cots for sleeping because there was not enough room for them.

Another 275 women were living in repurposed Army tents, he said.

Pence said the centre at McAllen was a "prime example" of why the United States must secure its borders.

"The facility is overcrowded and our system is overwhelmed. It is time for Democrats in Congress to step, do their jobs, and end this crisis," Pence wrote on Twitter.

President Donald Trump, a Republican, has made cracking down on illegal immigration a centrepiece of his administration, which is trying to deal with a surge of mostly Central American families crossing the US-Mexico border.

Pence also viewed a separate facility for families, divided into rooms to house women with children, men with children, unaccompanied minors and entire family units.

Inside, migrants lay on tinfoil-like blankets and some children watched television. Two of the children said they had walked for two to three months before arriving at the facility.

Vice President Mike Pence viewed an overcrowded, foul-smelling facility in Texas on Friday where nearly 400 men are detained after being accused of crossing the US border illegally.

Vice President Mike Pence viewed an overcrowded, foul-smelling facility in Texas on Friday where nearly 400 men are detained after being accused of crossing the US border illegally. Some 384 single men were corralled behind metal fences inside the sweltering facility in McAllen, according to a pool reporter on the scene. The men did not have mats or pillows and some were sleeping on concrete. The cages were so crowded, according to the reporter, that it would have been impossible for all the men to lie down at the same time. Some of the men said that they had been there for 40 days or longer, were hungry and wanted to brush their teeth. Some agents guarding the cages wore face masks. Water was available outside the fences, the pool reporter said, citing agents who said the men had access to the water when journalists were not present. After visiting the facility, Pence said at a news conference that he was not surprised by what he saw. "I knew we'd see a system that was overwhelmed," Pence told reporters. "This is tough stuff." A patrol agent, Michael Banks, said the men were allowed to brush their teeth once a day. "We currently have 88,000 toothbrushes," he said. Many of the men had not showered for 10 to 20 days because the facility did not previously have showers, according to Banks, who said it now had a trailer shower. Banks said the longest any man had been at the facility was 32 days. The men were given three hot meals a day from local restaurants but could not have cots for sleeping because there was not enough room for them. Another 275 women were living in repurposed Army tents, he said. Pence said the centre at McAllen was a "prime example" of why the United States must secure its borders. "The facility is overcrowded and our system is overwhelmed. It is time for Democrats in Congress to step, do their jobs, and end this crisis," Pence wrote on Twitter. President Donald Trump, a Republican, has made cracking down on illegal immigration a centrepiece of his administration, which is trying to deal with a surge of mostly Central American families crossing the US-Mexico border. Pence also viewed a separate facility for families, divided into rooms to house women with children, men with children, unaccompanied minors and entire family units. Inside, migrants lay on tinfoil-like blankets and some children watched television. Two of the children said they had walked for two to three months before arriving at the facility.

Mike Pence visits overcrowded, bad-smelling facility for detained migrants in Texas

Chasing The American Dream: A Dangerous Journey To The U.S. Hundreds of thousands of people make a gruelling journey across the U.S.-Mexico border. Many are caught on the border - and end up in detention centres. But many others do not even make it that far. Here's a report on the gruelling journey of illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexico border

Gravitas: The Gruelling journey across The U.S-Mexico border

Migrants held at a border patrol station in Texas were being <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bodies-of-drowned-salvadoran-migrant-and-2-year-old-child-back-in-el-salvador-231939">kept in "horrifying" conditions</a> that included psychological abuse and being told to drink out of toilets, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said after a visit to the facility with other US&nbsp;lawmakers on Monday.

A delegation of lawmakers from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/thats-the-end-of-that-race-trump-knocks-democrats-over-healthcare-for-immigrants-231061">Congressional Hispanic Caucus</a> were touring the border patrol facilities following reports from a government watchdog that immigrants were being housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

First-term Democratic Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter after leaving the main border patrol station in El Paso that she had seen women in cells with no water who had been told to drink out of toilets.

"After I forced myself into a cell w/ women&amp;began speaking to them, one of them described their treatment at the hands of officers as "psychological warfare," she wrote.

"This has been horrifying so far."

Reuters could not independently confirm her account. US&nbsp;Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which oversees Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her statements.

Conditions at US&nbsp;facilities holding migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border have become a flashpoint in recent weeks after an internal government watchdog warned of "dangerous overcrowding" at the El Paso facility in May.

In June, immigration lawyers raised alarms over squalid conditions facing hundreds of children at another facility in Clint, Texas. The lawmakers visited both Texas facilities on Monday.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration centerpiece of his administration, but officials say a renewed crush of mostly Central Americans arriving at the border has strained resources.

The Border Patrol also came under fire on Monday following a report by the non-profit news site ProPublica that said offensive content had been posted on a private Facebook group for current and former CBP officers. Posts included jokes about the deaths of migrants and sexually explicit comments referencing Ocasio-Cortez, a representative from New York, the news outlet reported.

After leaving the El Paso facility, Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a tweet, "I see why CBP officers were being so physically &amp; sexually threatening towards me," an apparent reference to the Facebook group.

CBP condemned the Facebook group and acknowledged that it may include a number of the agency's employees.

Matthew Klein, Assistant Commissioner of CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility, called the social media activity "disturbing" and said it violated the agency's code of conduct. Klein said the matter had been referred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector general, which has jurisdiction over the CBP.

According to a screenshot published by ProPublica, the Facebook group had 9,500 members.

"These posts are completely inappropriate and contrary to the honour and integrity I see - and expect - from our agents day in and day out. Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable," US&nbsp;Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost said in a statement.

Border Patrol agents have expressed their own concerns about conditions at facilities, according to documents published Monday from the DHS Inspector General that supported the watchdog's May report.

The documents revealed US&nbsp;agents feared riots by migrants being held in overcrowded and unsanitary cells and were "embarrassed" and "frustrated" by the detainees' conditions at El Paso.

Border Patrol agents "remained armed in the holding areas because of their concerns with the overcrowding that potentially could result in volatile situations," the documents revealed. Government inspectors saw migrants standing on toilets because there was not enough room in cells and other examples of unsanitary conditions leading to concerns about illness among the agents, the documents said.

CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the documents. The US&nbsp;government responded to the report in a letter to the watchdog included in the supporting documents. The situation "represents an acute and worsening crisis" and the surging numbers of migrants were overwhelming the agencies, the letter said.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said in a statement on Monday he would be travelling to El Salvador for a two-day visit to discuss "the root causes of irregular migration" and would meet with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Honduras.

He travelled to Guatemala last week for meetings that included discussions of a "third safe country" agreement, which could potentially limit who could apply for asylum in the United States.

Migrants held at a border patrol station in Texas were being kept in "horrifying" conditions that included psychological abuse and being told to drink out of toilets, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said after a visit to the facility with other US lawmakers on Monday.

Migrants held at a border patrol station in Texas were being kept in "horrifying" conditions that included psychological abuse and being told to drink out of toilets, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said after a visit to the facility with other US lawmakers on Monday. A delegation of lawmakers from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus were touring the border patrol facilities following reports from a government watchdog that immigrants were being housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. First-term Democratic Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter after leaving the main border patrol station in El Paso that she had seen women in cells with no water who had been told to drink out of toilets. "After I forced myself into a cell w/ women&began speaking to them, one of them described their treatment at the hands of officers as "psychological warfare," she wrote. "This has been horrifying so far." Reuters could not independently confirm her account. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which oversees Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her statements. Conditions at US facilities holding migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border have become a flashpoint in recent weeks after an internal government watchdog warned of "dangerous overcrowding" at the El Paso facility in May. In June, immigration lawyers raised alarms over squalid conditions facing hundreds of children at another facility in Clint, Texas. The lawmakers visited both Texas facilities on Monday. US President Donald Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration centerpiece of his administration, but officials say a renewed crush of mostly Central Americans arriving at the border has strained resources. The Border Patrol also came under fire on Monday following a report by the non-profit news site ProPublica that said offensive content had been posted on a private Facebook group for current and former CBP officers. Posts included jokes about the deaths of migrants and sexually explicit comments referencing Ocasio-Cortez, a representative from New York, the news outlet reported. After leaving the El Paso facility, Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a tweet, "I see why CBP officers were being so physically & sexually threatening towards me," an apparent reference to the Facebook group. CBP condemned the Facebook group and acknowledged that it may include a number of the agency's employees. Matthew Klein, Assistant Commissioner of CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility, called the social media activity "disturbing" and said it violated the agency's code of conduct. Klein said the matter had been referred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector general, which has jurisdiction over the CBP. According to a screenshot published by ProPublica, the Facebook group had 9,500 members. "These posts are completely inappropriate and contrary to the honour and integrity I see - and expect - from our agents day in and day out. Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable," US Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost said in a statement. Border Patrol agents have expressed their own concerns about conditions at facilities, according to documents published Monday from the DHS Inspector General that supported the watchdog's May report. The documents revealed US agents feared riots by migrants being held in overcrowded and unsanitary cells and were "embarrassed" and "frustrated" by the detainees' conditions at El Paso. Border Patrol agents "remained armed in the holding areas because of their concerns with the overcrowding that potentially could result in volatile situations," the documents revealed. Government inspectors saw migrants standing on toilets because there was not enough room in cells and other examples of unsanitary conditions leading to concerns about illness among the agents, the documents said. CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the documents. The US government responded to the report in a letter to the watchdog included in the supporting documents. The situation "represents an acute and worsening crisis" and the surging numbers of migrants were overwhelming the agencies, the letter said. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said in a statement on Monday he would be travelling to El Salvador for a two-day visit to discuss "the root causes of irregular migration" and would meet with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Honduras. He travelled to Guatemala last week for meetings that included discussions of a "third safe country" agreement, which could potentially limit who could apply for asylum in the United States.

Migrants held at Texas border kept in 'horrifying conditions': US lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

The number of migrants taken into custody at the US-Mexico border is expected to drop by 25 per cent in June, in part due to Mexican efforts to stem the flow, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security said Friday.

More than 144,000 undocumented migrants were seized at the southwestern US border in May, part of a surge in recent months.

But Kevin McAleenan, the acting DHS secretary, said steps were taken by Mexico -- under pressure from President Donald Trump -- to reduce the number of border-crossers appeared to be having an impact.

"These three weeks have demonstrated that they are, already," McAleenan told reporters. "That 25 per cent decrease in June is more than we've seen in past years."

McAleenan said the upcoming weeks will show exactly how effective the Mexican efforts have been.

"I think we're going to know, basically, by mid-July and certainly in the end of July if these efforts are sustained and having a significant impact," he said.

The acting DHS secretary said a reduction in the number of migrants crossing the border would have a positive impact on the conditions in which they are being held in the United States.

The DHS and Border Patrol have been under criticism lately over the conditions in which migrants, particularly children, are being held.

"I think we're going to see a continued reduction in the numbers which will alleviate some of the capacity constraints we've had," McAleenan said.

"That should present a much better situation at the border for the arriving migrants," he said.

Earlier this month, Trump rattled world markets and defied his advisers by threatening tariffs on all Mexican imports unless the country cracked down more on people pouring across the border into the United States.

Mexico avoided the duties after agreeing to bolster security on the border and expand its policy of taking back migrants, most of them from violence-riven Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, as the United States processes their asylum claims.

The number of migrants taken into custody at the US-Mexico border is expected to drop by 25 per cent in June, in part due to Mexican efforts to stem the flow, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security said Friday.

The number of migrants taken into custody at the US-Mexico border is expected to drop by 25 per cent in June, in part due to Mexican efforts to stem the flow, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security said Friday. More than 144,000 undocumented migrants were seized at the southwestern US border in May, part of a surge in recent months. But Kevin McAleenan, the acting DHS secretary, said steps were taken by Mexico -- under pressure from President Donald Trump -- to reduce the number of border-crossers appeared to be having an impact. "These three weeks have demonstrated that they are, already," McAleenan told reporters. "That 25 per cent decrease in June is more than we've seen in past years." McAleenan said the upcoming weeks will show exactly how effective the Mexican efforts have been. "I think we're going to know, basically, by mid-July and certainly in the end of July if these efforts are sustained and having a significant impact," he said. The acting DHS secretary said a reduction in the number of migrants crossing the border would have a positive impact on the conditions in which they are being held in the United States. The DHS and Border Patrol have been under criticism lately over the conditions in which migrants, particularly children, are being held. "I think we're going to see a continued reduction in the numbers which will alleviate some of the capacity constraints we've had," McAleenan said. "That should present a much better situation at the border for the arriving migrants," he said. Earlier this month, Trump rattled world markets and defied his advisers by threatening tariffs on all Mexican imports unless the country cracked down more on people pouring across the border into the United States. Mexico avoided the duties after agreeing to bolster security on the border and expand its policy of taking back migrants, most of them from violence-riven Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, as the United States processes their asylum claims.

US expects 25% drop in arrests on Mexico border in June

The acting head of the US Customs and Border Protection agency announced his resignation on Tuesday amid a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrants-describe-overcrowded-mexican-detention-centers-as-trump-ratchets-up-pressure-229762">public outcry over alarming detention conditions</a> of migrant children in Texas.

John Sanders, appointed to the post just two months ago, said in a letter obtained by several US media outlets that he planned to step down as acting CBP commissioner on July 5.

Sanders' departure coincides with the revelation of unsanitary detention conditions for children at an overcrowded Border Patrol facility in Clint, Texas, a sign of the increasing strain on resources due to soaring numbers of arrests at the US-Mexico border.

The conditions at the centre in Clint were described by a team of lawyers, doctors and others who visited the facility about 20 miles (30 kilometres) southeast of El Paso.

Nearly 250 children were transferred out of Clint on Monday but a CBP official said Tuesday that some 100 were being sent back there.

"The three-year-old before me had matted hair, a hacking cough, muddy pants, and eyes that fluttered closed with fatigue," wrote Clara Long, a researcher with Human Rights Watch who accompanied the team.

"His only caretaker for the last three weeks in a United States Border Patrol chain-link cage and then a cell... his 11-year old brother," Long said.

"Children at Clint told us they don't have regular access to showers or clean clothes, with some saying they hadn't been allowed to bathe over periods of weeks and don't have regular access to soap," she said.

'Untenable position'

Sanders has led CBP since April, when President Donald Trump tapped CBP chief Kevin McAleenan to replace Kirstjen Nielsen as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

In a message to staff, Sanders did not give a specific reason for quitting and officials told The Washington Post and The New York Times it was not clear if his resignation was directly related to the handling of underage migrants at the border.

Trump told reporters Tuesday he did not ask Sanders to step down but "knew there were going to be changed there."

According to the Post, Trump plans to name Mark Morgan, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to replace Sanders.

In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Morgan said he does not believe there is a "systemic problem" at detention facilities.

"I just don't agree that it's egregious conditions, like a systemic problem," Morgan said. "Are there issues that we can improve and get better? Absolutely."

US law requires unaccompanied minors to be returned to their parents or transferred to Health and Human Services facilities within 72 hours.

But many of the children held by the Border Patrol in Clint had been there for three or four weeks, according to the team which visited the facility on June 17.

"The Border Patrol claims that high numbers of border arrivals are causing these delays as they wait for space to open up in the somewhat more child-friendly detention centers and shelters," said HRW's Long.

Arrivals of undocumented migrants at the southern US border have surged in recent months, with 144,000 taken into custody in May alone.

"Everybody understands it is not the Border Patrol's job to take care of children," said Warren Binford, a Willamette University law professor who visited the Clint facility.

"They are as upset as we are that these children are being put into their care because they don't have the ability to care for them," Binford said on MSNBC.

"These children need to be with their families."

'Form of slavery'

Trump, asked about conditions at the detention centres, said he was "very concerned" and urged Democrats to approve $4.5 billion in emergency humanitarian funding for the southwest border.

He said "bad people" were using children to take advantage of lax US immigration laws. "It's a form of slavery what they're doing to young children," he said.

Trump also said Mexico "for the first time in 50 years is helping us" prevent border-crossing -- after he threatened steep tariffs on Mexican goods unless it did more to slow migration.

Following a week of tense negotiations, Mexico agreed to reinforce its southern border with 6,000 National Guardsmen and expand its policy of taking back migrants while the US processes their asylum claims. Mexico has also deployed 15,000 troops to the US border.

"They've done a great job," said Trump. "Hopefully they can keep it up."

The acting head of the US Customs and Border Protection agency announced his resignation on Tuesday amid a public outcry over alarming detention conditions of migrant children in Texas.

The acting head of the US Customs and Border Protection agency announced his resignation on Tuesday amid a public outcry over alarming detention conditions of migrant children in Texas. John Sanders, appointed to the post just two months ago, said in a letter obtained by several US media outlets that he planned to step down as acting CBP commissioner on July 5. Sanders' departure coincides with the revelation of unsanitary detention conditions for children at an overcrowded Border Patrol facility in Clint, Texas, a sign of the increasing strain on resources due to soaring numbers of arrests at the US-Mexico border. The conditions at the centre in Clint were described by a team of lawyers, doctors and others who visited the facility about 20 miles (30 kilometres) southeast of El Paso. Nearly 250 children were transferred out of Clint on Monday but a CBP official said Tuesday that some 100 were being sent back there. "The three-year-old before me had matted hair, a hacking cough, muddy pants, and eyes that fluttered closed with fatigue," wrote Clara Long, a researcher with Human Rights Watch who accompanied the team. "His only caretaker for the last three weeks in a United States Border Patrol chain-link cage and then a cell... his 11-year old brother," Long said. "Children at Clint told us they don't have regular access to showers or clean clothes, with some saying they hadn't been allowed to bathe over periods of weeks and don't have regular access to soap," she said. 'Untenable position' Sanders has led CBP since April, when President Donald Trump tapped CBP chief Kevin McAleenan to replace Kirstjen Nielsen as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. In a message to staff, Sanders did not give a specific reason for quitting and officials told The Washington Post and The New York Times it was not clear if his resignation was directly related to the handling of underage migrants at the border. Trump told reporters Tuesday he did not ask Sanders to step down but "knew there were going to be changed there." According to the Post, Trump plans to name Mark Morgan, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to replace Sanders. In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Morgan said he does not believe there is a "systemic problem" at detention facilities. "I just don't agree that it's egregious conditions, like a systemic problem," Morgan said. "Are there issues that we can improve and get better? Absolutely." US law requires unaccompanied minors to be returned to their parents or transferred to Health and Human Services facilities within 72 hours. But many of the children held by the Border Patrol in Clint had been there for three or four weeks, according to the team which visited the facility on June 17. "The Border Patrol claims that high numbers of border arrivals are causing these delays as they wait for space to open up in the somewhat more child-friendly detention centers and shelters," said HRW's Long. Arrivals of undocumented migrants at the southern US border have surged in recent months, with 144,000 taken into custody in May alone. "Everybody understands it is not the Border Patrol's job to take care of children," said Warren Binford, a Willamette University law professor who visited the Clint facility. "They are as upset as we are that these children are being put into their care because they don't have the ability to care for them," Binford said on MSNBC. "These children need to be with their families." 'Form of slavery' Trump, asked about conditions at the detention centres, said he was "very concerned" and urged Democrats to approve $4.5 billion in emergency humanitarian funding for the southwest border. He said "bad people" were using children to take advantage of lax US immigration laws. "It's a form of slavery what they're doing to young children," he said. Trump also said Mexico "for the first time in 50 years is helping us" prevent border-crossing -- after he threatened steep tariffs on Mexican goods unless it did more to slow migration. Following a week of tense negotiations, Mexico agreed to reinforce its southern border with 6,000 National Guardsmen and expand its policy of taking back migrants while the US processes their asylum claims. Mexico has also deployed 15,000 troops to the US border. "They've done a great job," said Trump. "Hopefully they can keep it up."

US border chief John Sanders quits amid outcry over child detainees

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/factbox-clash-between-trump-us-house-democrats-shifts-into-courts-228730">US House Democrats</a> said they plan to pass a $4.5 billion aid package aimed at addressing the migrant surge along the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-closure-of-us-mexico-border-next-week-to-stem-asylum-surge-206626">US-Mexico border</a> later on Tuesday, citing an urgency to act following reports of poor conditions facing young children at overcrowded facilities.

"This week we have to solve the humanitarian crisis," Hakeem Jeffries, the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus chairman, told reporters, predicting that the funding package would pass the House with a "strong Democratic vote."

Lawmakers were rushing to add language before the vote to mandate better health and nutrition standards at border facilities.&nbsp;

That came after some liberal Democrats expressed alarm that not enough was being done to improve conditions at the border, where the number of migrants apprehended surged in May to the highest level since 2006.

Last week, the Associated Press reported on squalid conditions facing migrant children being detained by US authorities, including a lack of access to food, beds and hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste.

Republican US President Donald Trump, despite having requested the $4.5 billion border aid package, on Monday night threatened to veto the House bill, saying the provisions added by Democrats - who control the chamber - would make the country "less safe."

But Jeffries said he expected Trump to sign the bill into law despite his threat, citing the president's recent reversals on other issues such as tariffs.

"There is no decency to having these children subjected to these horrific conditions," Jeffries said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seeking to galvanize her caucus, told them the House would need a strong vote to prevail.

"A vote against this bill is a vote for Donald Trump and his inhumane, outside-the-circle of civilized attitude toward the children," she said at a closed-door Tuesday morning meeting, according to a senior Democratic aide.

Democratic leaders said they would add language to protect the health of migrants in the custody of US Border Patrol agents, including standards for medical care and nutrition.&nbsp;

The bill's language would also set a three-month limit for any unaccompanied child migrant to spend at an intake shelter unless notice is given.

It was unclear whether the changes would be enough for some Democrats who fear the Trump administration could use some of the money for other purposes, such as deportations of migrants.

Representative Ilhan Omar said she objected to $155 million in the bill that would go to US marshals, a law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice.

"There's no good outcome here," said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has compared the detention centres for undocumented immigrants at the border to "concentration camps."&nbsp;

She said she is worried over whether the funding will "go to the places that we need it to go."

The House legislation would also reinstate hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras that was cut off by the Trump administration.

The Republican-majority Senate was proceeding with its own, bipartisan, $4.6 billion versions of the legislation and was expected to vote soon.

US House Democrats said they plan to pass a $4.5 billion aid package aimed at addressing the migrant surge along the US-Mexico border later on Tuesday, citing an urgency to act following reports of poor conditions facing young children at overcrowded facilities.

US House Democrats said they plan to pass a $4.5 billion aid package aimed at addressing the migrant surge along the US-Mexico border later on Tuesday, citing an urgency to act following reports of poor conditions facing young children at overcrowded facilities. "This week we have to solve the humanitarian crisis," Hakeem Jeffries, the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus chairman, told reporters, predicting that the funding package would pass the House with a "strong Democratic vote." Lawmakers were rushing to add language before the vote to mandate better health and nutrition standards at border facilities. That came after some liberal Democrats expressed alarm that not enough was being done to improve conditions at the border, where the number of migrants apprehended surged in May to the highest level since 2006. Last week, the Associated Press reported on squalid conditions facing migrant children being detained by US authorities, including a lack of access to food, beds and hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste. Republican US President Donald Trump, despite having requested the $4.5 billion border aid package, on Monday night threatened to veto the House bill, saying the provisions added by Democrats - who control the chamber - would make the country "less safe." But Jeffries said he expected Trump to sign the bill into law despite his threat, citing the president's recent reversals on other issues such as tariffs. "There is no decency to having these children subjected to these horrific conditions," Jeffries said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seeking to galvanize her caucus, told them the House would need a strong vote to prevail. "A vote against this bill is a vote for Donald Trump and his inhumane, outside-the-circle of civilized attitude toward the children," she said at a closed-door Tuesday morning meeting, according to a senior Democratic aide. Democratic leaders said they would add language to protect the health of migrants in the custody of US Border Patrol agents, including standards for medical care and nutrition. The bill's language would also set a three-month limit for any unaccompanied child migrant to spend at an intake shelter unless notice is given. It was unclear whether the changes would be enough for some Democrats who fear the Trump administration could use some of the money for other purposes, such as deportations of migrants. Representative Ilhan Omar said she objected to $155 million in the bill that would go to US marshals, a law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice. "There's no good outcome here," said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has compared the detention centres for undocumented immigrants at the border to "concentration camps." She said she is worried over whether the funding will "go to the places that we need it to go." The House legislation would also reinstate hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras that was cut off by the Trump administration. The Republican-majority Senate was proceeding with its own, bipartisan, $4.6 billion versions of the legislation and was expected to vote soon.

United States House Democrats rush to pass border aid bill before July 4, Trump vows veto

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - June 20th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - June 19th, 2019

By Savitri Arvey and Steph Leutert

Over the past three months, the number of Central Americans arriving at the US-Mexico border has jumped exponentially, and total border crossings have reached levels last seen in 2006.

Yet, while the number of families arriving between official border crossings has skyrocketed, the number of migrants seeking asylum at official border crossings has remained relatively constant, at around 4,200 per month.

It’s not that these families prefer to cross the Rio Grande or scale the border wall. Instead, our research shows that at least part of this pattern can be explained by a US policy that has left thousands of individuals waiting to request asylum in Mexican border cities since the summer of 2018.

A shift in US policy

In May 2018, US Customs and Border Protection officials began a practice known as metering across the southern border.

This means that officials are stationed at official ports of entry along the border to notify arriving asylum seekers that US&nbsp;border crossings are full due to “limited processing capacity” and they will have to wait in Mexico until space becomes available. Previously, officials processed all asylum seekers that showed up at crossings.

At the same time that the metering process began, these US&nbsp;officials started coordinating with Mexican officials to alert them of their capacity and how many asylum seekers the ports could accept per day.

As metering spread across the border, the number of asylum seekers in Mexican border cities increased. Yet it wasn’t clear exactly how many people were left waiting. When we started our research in November, no one had reported the numbers across the entire border or how the waitlists worked.

In December, we published a report with four colleagues that documented the spread of metering along the US-Mexico border and responses within Mexican border cities.

Soon after the report was published, new migration dynamics began to shift what metering looked like in these border cities, so we published an update in February and another in May.

These reports draw on dozens of interviews with Mexican government officials and civil society representatives, as well as in-person observations at ports of entry.

Our reports show that the number of people waiting in border cities to seek asylum at ports of entry has increased – from approximately 6,000 in November 2018, when the Honduran migrant caravan arrived in Tijuana, Baja California, to 19,000 in May 2019.

The increasing numbers have resulted in longer wait times along the entire border. In November 2018, most asylum seekers waited a few days or weeks for their turn on the list to request asylum at the port of entry. Now, asylum seekers wait one to two months in most cities for the chance to ask for asylum at a port of entry. In Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, they wait over four months. 
 
Waitlists

A growing numbers of Mexican border cities have developed waitlists to organize the lines of asylum seekers, coordinating with Customs and Border Protection officials on how many are accepted per day.

While all major border cities have waitlists, smaller cities now also have started their own waitlists. These lists are managed by a range of administrators, including Mexico’s National Migration Institute, state and municipal governments, civil society organizations and asylum seekers themselves.

The list logistics also vary. They may include writing name and nationality in a notebook; sending personal contact information through social media, such as a private Facebook group; or sending a Whatsapp note to the list officiator.

This lack of standardisation is not only confusing for asylum seekers, but can create nontransparent processes that foster corruption. For example, we and others have heard allegations of list administrators charging bribes to add asylum seekers to their list.

The increase in the number asylum seekers and longer wait times has put a stress on shelters in Mexican border cities, which all reported to us that they were over capacity.

As a result, asylum seekers rent hotel rooms and apartments or sleep on the streets. This increases their risks for being preyed upon by organised criminals or other opportunistic actors.

Creating new issues

The nonstandard waiting list process, long wait times and security threats in Mexican border cities have pushed some individuals to cross without authorization between US&nbsp;ports of entry to request asylum.

An October 2018 Department of Homeland Security report documented this trend, noting that metering “may have led asylum seekers at ports of entry to attempt illegal border crossings” after being turned away at ports of entry. It has also created confusion with the waitlists in Mexican border cities, as some asylum seekers do not show up for their turns.

We believe the challenges are likely to only worsen in the coming months. According to a June 7 agreement with Mexico, US&nbsp;authorities have promised to begin sending back more people to Mexican border cities under the Migrant Protection Protocols, a program that began in January to send asylum seekers to Mexico for the duration of their US asylum case proceedings.

With larger numbers of people waiting to seek asylum and others waiting during their asylum cases, Mexican border communities will likely continue to feel the strain.

 
(Savitri Arvey is Graduate Student Researcher at the Center for US-Mexican Studies, University of California San Diego; Steph Leutert is irector of the MDexico Security Initiative, University of Texas at Austin)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/thousands-of-asylum-seekers-left-waiting-at-the-us-mexico-border-118367">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

By Savitri Arvey and Steph Leutert Over the past three months, the number of Central Americans arriving at the US-Mexico border has jumped exponentially, and total border crossings have reached levels last seen in 2006.

By Savitri Arvey and Steph Leutert Over the past three months, the number of Central Americans arriving at the US-Mexico border has jumped exponentially, and total border crossings have reached levels last seen in 2006. Yet, while the number of families arriving between official border crossings has skyrocketed, the number of migrants seeking asylum at official border crossings has remained relatively constant, at around 4,200 per month. It’s not that these families prefer to cross the Rio Grande or scale the border wall. Instead, our research shows that at least part of this pattern can be explained by a US policy that has left thousands of individuals waiting to request asylum in Mexican border cities since the summer of 2018. A shift in US policy In May 2018, US Customs and Border Protection officials began a practice known as metering across the southern border. This means that officials are stationed at official ports of entry along the border to notify arriving asylum seekers that US border crossings are full due to “limited processing capacity” and they will have to wait in Mexico until space becomes available. Previously, officials processed all asylum seekers that showed up at crossings. At the same time that the metering process began, these US officials started coordinating with Mexican officials to alert them of their capacity and how many asylum seekers the ports could accept per day. As metering spread across the border, the number of asylum seekers in Mexican border cities increased. Yet it wasn’t clear exactly how many people were left waiting. When we started our research in November, no one had reported the numbers across the entire border or how the waitlists worked. In December, we published a report with four colleagues that documented the spread of metering along the US-Mexico border and responses within Mexican border cities. Soon after the report was published, new migration dynamics began to shift what metering looked like in these border cities, so we published an update in February and another in May. These reports draw on dozens of interviews with Mexican government officials and civil society representatives, as well as in-person observations at ports of entry. Our reports show that the number of people waiting in border cities to seek asylum at ports of entry has increased – from approximately 6,000 in November 2018, when the Honduran migrant caravan arrived in Tijuana, Baja California, to 19,000 in May 2019. The increasing numbers have resulted in longer wait times along the entire border. In November 2018, most asylum seekers waited a few days or weeks for their turn on the list to request asylum at the port of entry. Now, asylum seekers wait one to two months in most cities for the chance to ask for asylum at a port of entry. In Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, they wait over four months. Waitlists A growing numbers of Mexican border cities have developed waitlists to organize the lines of asylum seekers, coordinating with Customs and Border Protection officials on how many are accepted per day. While all major border cities have waitlists, smaller cities now also have started their own waitlists. These lists are managed by a range of administrators, including Mexico’s National Migration Institute, state and municipal governments, civil society organizations and asylum seekers themselves. The list logistics also vary. They may include writing name and nationality in a notebook; sending personal contact information through social media, such as a private Facebook group; or sending a Whatsapp note to the list officiator. This lack of standardisation is not only confusing for asylum seekers, but can create nontransparent processes that foster corruption. For example, we and others have heard allegations of list administrators charging bribes to add asylum seekers to their list. The increase in the number asylum seekers and longer wait times has put a stress on shelters in Mexican border cities, which all reported to us that they were over capacity. As a result, asylum seekers rent hotel rooms and apartments or sleep on the streets. This increases their risks for being preyed upon by organised criminals or other opportunistic actors. Creating new issues The nonstandard waiting list process, long wait times and security threats in Mexican border cities have pushed some individuals to cross without authorization between US ports of entry to request asylum. An October 2018 Department of Homeland Security report documented this trend, noting that metering “may have led asylum seekers at ports of entry to attempt illegal border crossings” after being turned away at ports of entry. It has also created confusion with the waitlists in Mexican border cities, as some asylum seekers do not show up for their turns. We believe the challenges are likely to only worsen in the coming months. According to a June 7 agreement with Mexico, US authorities have promised to begin sending back more people to Mexican border cities under the Migrant Protection Protocols, a program that began in January to send asylum seekers to Mexico for the duration of their US asylum case proceedings. With larger numbers of people waiting to seek asylum and others waiting during their asylum cases, Mexican border communities will likely continue to feel the strain. (Savitri Arvey is Graduate Student Researcher at the Center for US-Mexican Studies, University of California San Diego; Steph Leutert is irector of the MDexico Security Initiative, University of Texas at Austin) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Thousands of asylum seekers left waiting at the US-Mexico border

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - June 18th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - June 17th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - June 16th, 2019

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-reaches-deal-with-us-on-migration-averting-tariff-war-trump-225346">US-Mexico immigration deal met President Donald Trump's objectives</a> of fixing immigration problems on the southern US border, but Trump will retain the authority to impose tariffs if Mexico fails to live up to it.

The deal averts a 5%<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-promises-unprecedented-steps-to-curb-migration-in-us-deal-joint-statement-225371"> tariff on all Mexican goods</a> that was due to start on Monday, with Mexico agreeing to rapidly expand a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-offers-to-send-national-guard-to-guatemala-to-stem-migration-sources-225134">controversial asylum program</a> and deploy security forces to stem the flow of illegal Central American migrants.

"We now have an agreement that we believe is going to fix the immigration issue. And that was extremely important to the president," Mnuchin told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a G20 finance meeting in Fukuoka, Japan.

Mnuchin, who said he participated in a call with Trump just before the deal was announced, said the president would retain the right to impose tariffs if Mexico did not keep its commitments.

"Our expectation is that Mexico will do what they've committed to do and our expectation is that we won’t need to put tariffs in place, but obviously if that's not the case, the president retains that authority."

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that the US-Mexico immigration deal met President Donald Trump's objectives of fixing immigration problems on the southern US border, but Trump will retain the authority to impose tariffs if Mexico fails to live up to it.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that the US-Mexico immigration deal met President Donald Trump's objectives of fixing immigration problems on the southern US border, but Trump will retain the authority to impose tariffs if Mexico fails to live up to it. The deal averts a 5% tariff on all Mexican goods that was due to start on Monday, with Mexico agreeing to rapidly expand a controversial asylum program and deploy security forces to stem the flow of illegal Central American migrants. "We now have an agreement that we believe is going to fix the immigration issue. And that was extremely important to the president," Mnuchin told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a G20 finance meeting in Fukuoka, Japan. Mnuchin, who said he participated in a call with Trump just before the deal was announced, said the president would retain the right to impose tariffs if Mexico did not keep its commitments. "Our expectation is that Mexico will do what they've committed to do and our expectation is that we won’t need to put tariffs in place, but obviously if that's not the case, the president retains that authority."

US Treasury's Mnuchin says Mexico immigration deal fixes problems

Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan made his second trip to the US-Mexico border on Saturday as the Pentagon looks to develop a longer-term plan to support President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

Shanahan travelled to McAllen, Texas, to meet with officials and visit a migrant processing facility and Border Patrol station, two days after the White House announced Trump's intention to nominate the former Boeing Co executive as defence secretary.

"We're not going to leave until the border is secure," Shanahan told about two dozen border patrol officials as hundreds of detained migrants waited in tents to be processed.&nbsp;

Shanahan was accompanied by another acting secretary, Kevin McAleenan, who leads the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after a shake-up instigated by Trump, whose hard-line immigration policies have not stemmed a rising tide of migrants.

On Friday, the Pentagon said Shanahan approved the transfer of $1.5 billion to build more than 80 miles (130 km) of barriers on the border, part of a patchwork project after Trump failed to secure funding from Congress for a complete border wall.

Trump has been eager to have the US military play a larger role on the border and, despite some criticism from lawmakers, Pentagon officials say they are looking to create a long-term plan for assistance.

Shanahan told a small group of reporters travelling with him that military assistance would not continue "indefinitely," but that it would be in place longer than months.

The Pentagon has tapped a two-star Army general to work with DHS to look at what military support will be needed in the future. Shanahan said he expected a plan from the general in the next few weeks.

"(It is about) getting us out of this à la carte tasking where, 'Hey, we need 50 guys to do this, 50 guys to do that,'" a senior defence official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said the idea was to look out over a timeline of at least two years.

The official added that the Pentagon was reviewing a recent request from DHS to provide housing for detained migrants.

"What we're hopful&nbsp;to do is have, in fairly short order for the secretary of Homeland Security, a much more predictable, comprehensive plan for the next couple of years," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, said earlier this week.

There are currently about 4,500 US service members on the border, and they are authorized to be there until through September.

Democratic criticism

The decision to transfer the $1.5 billion for border funding came on top of a March transfer of $1 billion in military money to fund the wall, which Democratic lawmakers criticized sharply.

Lawmakers have hinted they may respond by putting new restrictions on the Pentagon's authority to move money around.

Shanahan said he understood Congress could take that authority away from the Pentagon and said he was unsure how to ease concerns. "I don't have a good answer for how we're going to balance it. It is a predicament," he said.

The Pentagon is weighing which projects from the military construction budget will be affected to help pay up to $3.6 billion for the wall and whether there is a military need for it.

Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan made his second trip to the US-Mexico border on Saturday as the Pentagon looks to develop a longer-term plan to support President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan made his second trip to the US-Mexico border on Saturday as the Pentagon looks to develop a longer-term plan to support President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Shanahan travelled to McAllen, Texas, to meet with officials and visit a migrant processing facility and Border Patrol station, two days after the White House announced Trump's intention to nominate the former Boeing Co executive as defence secretary. "We're not going to leave until the border is secure," Shanahan told about two dozen border patrol officials as hundreds of detained migrants waited in tents to be processed. Shanahan was accompanied by another acting secretary, Kevin McAleenan, who leads the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after a shake-up instigated by Trump, whose hard-line immigration policies have not stemmed a rising tide of migrants. On Friday, the Pentagon said Shanahan approved the transfer of $1.5 billion to build more than 80 miles (130 km) of barriers on the border, part of a patchwork project after Trump failed to secure funding from Congress for a complete border wall. Trump has been eager to have the US military play a larger role on the border and, despite some criticism from lawmakers, Pentagon officials say they are looking to create a long-term plan for assistance. Shanahan told a small group of reporters travelling with him that military assistance would not continue "indefinitely," but that it would be in place longer than months. The Pentagon has tapped a two-star Army general to work with DHS to look at what military support will be needed in the future. Shanahan said he expected a plan from the general in the next few weeks. "(It is about) getting us out of this à la carte tasking where, 'Hey, we need 50 guys to do this, 50 guys to do that,'" a senior defence official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said the idea was to look out over a timeline of at least two years. The official added that the Pentagon was reviewing a recent request from DHS to provide housing for detained migrants. "What we're hopful to do is have, in fairly short order for the secretary of Homeland Security, a much more predictable, comprehensive plan for the next couple of years," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, said earlier this week. There are currently about 4,500 US service members on the border, and they are authorized to be there until through September. Democratic criticism The decision to transfer the $1.5 billion for border funding came on top of a March transfer of $1 billion in military money to fund the wall, which Democratic lawmakers criticized sharply. Lawmakers have hinted they may respond by putting new restrictions on the Pentagon's authority to move money around. Shanahan said he understood Congress could take that authority away from the Pentagon and said he was unsure how to ease concerns. "I don't have a good answer for how we're going to balance it. It is a predicament," he said. The Pentagon is weighing which projects from the military construction budget will be affected to help pay up to $3.6 billion for the wall and whether there is a military need for it.

US defence secretary visits US-Mexico border as Pentagon eyes longer-term plan to support Trump's immigration policy

US border authorities plan to give migrant families <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-authorities-detain-over-600-migrants-near-the-us-border-215029">DNA tests to determine whether </a>or not the adults and children are related, Department of Homeland Security officials said Wednesday.

A "Rapid DNA" test program is being launched in several places along the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-camps-overflow-as-mexico-cracks-down-after-trump-threats-211346">US-Mexico frontier</a>, where tens of thousands of undocumented migrants have been crossing the border each month, many in family units asking for asylum.

US officials say some involve adults using unrelated children as a means of entering and remaining in the United States, and the new tests aim at preventing this.

They plan to take cheek swabs of the migrants and process them to prove a parent-child relationship. Those whose claims are fraudulent will be prosecuted, the officials said.

"We know the problem we are seeing, we know these are fraudulent family units," an official said on condition of anonymity.

Nearly 190,000 people entered the country in family units without immigration documents between October and March, according to Customs and Border Protection statistics.

DHS said questioning and other investigative techniques revealed that more than 1,000 of these "families" were not what they claimed.

The DNA tests will focus on identifying parent-child relationships, not other familial links like uncle-child.

The DHS official said the new program will determine whether the use of Rapid DNA - a two-hour procedure in which a cheek swab is processed in a portable DNA analysis instrument - on the border is feasible and affordable.

"This may be the way of the future," the official said.

US border authorities plan to give migrant families DNA tests to determine whether or not the adults and children are related, Department of Homeland Security officials said Wednesday.

US border authorities plan to give migrant families DNA tests to determine whether or not the adults and children are related, Department of Homeland Security officials said Wednesday. A "Rapid DNA" test program is being launched in several places along the US-Mexico frontier, where tens of thousands of undocumented migrants have been crossing the border each month, many in family units asking for asylum. US officials say some involve adults using unrelated children as a means of entering and remaining in the United States, and the new tests aim at preventing this. They plan to take cheek swabs of the migrants and process them to prove a parent-child relationship. Those whose claims are fraudulent will be prosecuted, the officials said. "We know the problem we are seeing, we know these are fraudulent family units," an official said on condition of anonymity. Nearly 190,000 people entered the country in family units without immigration documents between October and March, according to Customs and Border Protection statistics. DHS said questioning and other investigative techniques revealed that more than 1,000 of these "families" were not what they claimed. The DNA tests will focus on identifying parent-child relationships, not other familial links like uncle-child. The DHS official said the new program will determine whether the use of Rapid DNA - a two-hour procedure in which a cheek swab is processed in a portable DNA analysis instrument - on the border is feasible and affordable. "This may be the way of the future," the official said.

US plans to give migrants DNA tests to prove family ties

US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the front-line defender of the administration's controversial immigration policies, announced her resignation Sunday, in a move linked by observers to the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-mocks-asylum-seekers-explains-halt-of-funds-to-central-american-nations-208466"> president's anger over Central American border crossers</a>.

Her departure marks the end of a tortured relationship with Donald Trump, who reportedly blamed her for a recent surge in the number of migrants crossing the southern border and felt she wasn't tough enough to implement his crackdown.

During her 18 months at the head of the powerful agency, Nielsen became synonymous with the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-parents-separated-from-children-return-to-us-plead-to-be-reunited-200880"> controversial policy of separating children from their parents</a>, making her a frequent target of progressive groups and the Democratic opposition who repeatedly called on her to resign.

None of this, however, seems to have been enough for Trump, whose ever hardening push against illegal immigration has left no room for the 46-year-old, an old hand of the administration who signed on at the start of the real-estate tycoon's presidency.

"Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen will be leaving her position, and I would like to thank her for her service," Trump tweeted Sunday.

He added US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan would become acting secretary.

"Despite our progress in reforming homeland security for a new age, I have determined that it is the right time for me to step aside," Nielsen said in a resignation letter she later shared on Twitter.

Nielsen's resignation comes days after she and Trump visited the Mexican border in California together, where the president delivered a message to would-be illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, "Our country is full."

He had previously threatened to close the US-Mexico border if Congress and Central American governments did not act to stem a flow of migrants that saw Nielsen last week order an "emergency surge" of personnel to handle the situation.

Trump wants tougher

On Friday, US media reported that Trump also pulled his nominee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement department -- saying he wanted someone "tougher" to lead the department -- a sub-agency of Nielsen's.

The personnel shake-ups were seen by observers as a signal the president wants to tack an even harder line.

"When even the most radical voices in the administration aren't radical enough for President Trump, you know he's completely lost touch with the American people," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday.

Nielsen initially joined the Trump administration in January 2017 as an assistant to Trump's first DHS secretary, John Kelly. When Kelly moved to the White House as Trump's chief of staff in July 2017, Nielsen went with him as his deputy.

But by October she was back at DHS, this time as secretary. Disaster relief, cybersecurity, transportation security, the Coast Guard, customs and policing the borders all fall under the department's purview.

Family separations

Most notably, however, she has become the face of the Trump administration's fierce anti-immigration policy.&nbsp;

That included the widely condemned practice of separating migrant children from their parents as part of a "zero tolerance" policy of prosecuting all illegal border crossers.

Images of sobbing children being taken from their parents last year fuelled a national outcry that saw Democrats demand she resign, as condemnation poured in from the United Nations, human rights groups, and four former first ladies -- all mothers -- who called the policy "cruel" and "immoral."

Nielsen's relationship with the president had long been said to be difficult. But despite reports, he complained constantly about her performance -- and that he believed she was not harsh enough -- she remained steadfastly loyal.

Last month, she defended the president's declaration of a national emergency to secure funding for his pet project, a wall on the US-Mexico border.

And when participants in a January 2018 White House session on immigration quoted Trump as referring to African nations as "shithole" countries, Nielsen came to the president's defence.

"I did not hear that word used," she told a congressional hearing.

Nielsen is just the latest of dozens of White House aides -- from attorney general Jeff Sessions to press secretary Sean Spicer -- to either resign or be sacked from a position in the Trump administration.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the front-line defender of the administration's controversial immigration policies, announced her resignation Sunday, in a move linked by observers to the president's anger over Central American border crossers.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the front-line defender of the administration's controversial immigration policies, announced her resignation Sunday, in a move linked by observers to the president's anger over Central American border crossers. Her departure marks the end of a tortured relationship with Donald Trump, who reportedly blamed her for a recent surge in the number of migrants crossing the southern border and felt she wasn't tough enough to implement his crackdown. During her 18 months at the head of the powerful agency, Nielsen became synonymous with the controversial policy of separating children from their parents, making her a frequent target of progressive groups and the Democratic opposition who repeatedly called on her to resign. None of this, however, seems to have been enough for Trump, whose ever hardening push against illegal immigration has left no room for the 46-year-old, an old hand of the administration who signed on at the start of the real-estate tycoon's presidency. "Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen will be leaving her position, and I would like to thank her for her service," Trump tweeted Sunday. He added US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan would become acting secretary. "Despite our progress in reforming homeland security for a new age, I have determined that it is the right time for me to step aside," Nielsen said in a resignation letter she later shared on Twitter. Nielsen's resignation comes days after she and Trump visited the Mexican border in California together, where the president delivered a message to would-be illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, "Our country is full." He had previously threatened to close the US-Mexico border if Congress and Central American governments did not act to stem a flow of migrants that saw Nielsen last week order an "emergency surge" of personnel to handle the situation. Trump wants tougher On Friday, US media reported that Trump also pulled his nominee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement department -- saying he wanted someone "tougher" to lead the department -- a sub-agency of Nielsen's. The personnel shake-ups were seen by observers as a signal the president wants to tack an even harder line. "When even the most radical voices in the administration aren't radical enough for President Trump, you know he's completely lost touch with the American people," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday. Nielsen initially joined the Trump administration in January 2017 as an assistant to Trump's first DHS secretary, John Kelly. When Kelly moved to the White House as Trump's chief of staff in July 2017, Nielsen went with him as his deputy. But by October she was back at DHS, this time as secretary. Disaster relief, cybersecurity, transportation security, the Coast Guard, customs and policing the borders all fall under the department's purview. Family separations Most notably, however, she has become the face of the Trump administration's fierce anti-immigration policy. That included the widely condemned practice of separating migrant children from their parents as part of a "zero tolerance" policy of prosecuting all illegal border crossers. Images of sobbing children being taken from their parents last year fuelled a national outcry that saw Democrats demand she resign, as condemnation poured in from the United Nations, human rights groups, and four former first ladies -- all mothers -- who called the policy "cruel" and "immoral." Nielsen's relationship with the president had long been said to be difficult. But despite reports, he complained constantly about her performance -- and that he believed she was not harsh enough -- she remained steadfastly loyal. Last month, she defended the president's declaration of a national emergency to secure funding for his pet project, a wall on the US-Mexico border. And when participants in a January 2018 White House session on immigration quoted Trump as referring to African nations as "shithole" countries, Nielsen came to the president's defence. "I did not hear that word used," she told a congressional hearing. Nielsen is just the latest of dozens of White House aides -- from attorney general Jeff Sessions to press secretary Sean Spicer -- to either resign or be sacked from a position in the Trump administration.

US Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen resigns

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-vote-on-healthcare-can-wait-until-after-2020-election-207350">President Donald Trump</a> said Tuesday he is "100 per cent" prepared to close down the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-closure-of-us-mexico-border-next-week-to-stem-asylum-surge-206626">US-Mexico border</a>, warning Congress and Central American governments to take action to stem the flow of migrants into the country.

Delays were already rising at several key border crossings as Trump ratcheted up pressure on Democrats in Congress to toughen US laws against illegal immigrants, threatening to hurt the US economy in the name of border security.

"It is a national emergency on the border," Trump said.

If Mexico does not stop migrants from transiting across its territory, and if Congress does not act, he said, "the border's going to be closed, 100 per cent."

"Sure it's going to have a negative impact on the economy," he said. "Security is more important to me than trade."

Trump said Democrats were blocking reforms for political reasons but could fix the problem "in 45 minutes."

He was not specific, but Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has asked Congress to give border officials the power to forcibly repatriate Central American illegal immigrants, including children who arrived alone, back to their countries.

The threat to close the border, which handled some $612 billion worth of trade in 2018, sent shivers through the economy, and drew warnings from allies of the president.

"Closing down the border would have potentially catastrophic economic impact on our country, and I would hope we would not be doing that sort of thing," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.

His call was backed by the Chamber of Commerce, which said in a statement that while it backed immigration reform, closing the border "would inflict severe economic harm on American families, workers, farmers and manufacturers across the United States."

100,000 migrants a month&nbsp;

Homeland Security officials said they were preparing for the possibility of a shutdown of at least some border entry points as they divert staff to deal with the flood of migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, expected to hit nearly 100,000 a month.

Nielsen cut short an official trip to Europe to return for meetings early Tuesday on the border crisis, and on Monday Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he would be meeting Nielsen and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the crisis.

Officials said facilities for handling the migrants -- who for the moment cannot be sent back after they cross the border and request asylum -- are overtaxed and understaffed, creating hazardous conditions.

"We are in a full-blown emergency. The bottom line is all options are on the table right now," a senior Homeland Security official, who declined to be named, told journalists Tuesday.

"The volume of vulnerable populations that are arriving is unsustainable... The humanitarian situation cannot be ignored and the security situation cannot be ignored."

Trump said Mexican officials had reacted to his threat to close the border last week by clamping down on the caravans of migrants fleeing poverty and violence in the three Central American countries.

Mexico "made a big step over the past two days," he said, adding that they would have to continue if they don't want the border closed.

He also defended his decision to cut off "hundreds of millions of dollars" in US aid to the three countries, accusing them of arranging the caravans of migrants.

The three "don't do anything for us," he said.&nbsp;

Long lines at border ports

On Monday, Nielsen ordered an "emergency surge" of personnel to deal with the situation, including moving 750 staff to areas of the border where the migrants arrive.

Many were being diverted from official ports, leading to slowdowns in processing arriving visitors and commercial vehicles.

Delays for incoming traffic were three hours at Brownsville, Texas, for the second straight day, and more than two hours in other areas.

On the Mexican side, Andres Morales Arreola, head of operations for border crossings in Chihuahua state, said the border between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso had "collapsed" because so many US border officials have been reassigned to deal with the migrant influx.

Long lines have formed at the border since Thursday, with wait times of up to eight hours for those trying to cross.

Ciudad Juarez Mayor Armando Cabada Alvidrez called on the city's bustling manufacturing sector to temporarily cut back shipments to the US in order to reduce the backup.

However, White House chief economist Larry Kudlow said they were working to minimise the economic impact from a closure of the border -- including keeping truck lanes open.

"The question is, can we deal with that and not have any economic damage?" he told CNBC television.

"I think the answer is we can and people are looking at different options, particularly if you can keep those freight lanes, those truck lanes open."

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is "100 per cent" prepared to close down the US-Mexico border, warning Congress and Central American governments to take action to stem the flow of migrants into the country.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is "100 per cent" prepared to close down the US-Mexico border, warning Congress and Central American governments to take action to stem the flow of migrants into the country. Delays were already rising at several key border crossings as Trump ratcheted up pressure on Democrats in Congress to toughen US laws against illegal immigrants, threatening to hurt the US economy in the name of border security. "It is a national emergency on the border," Trump said. If Mexico does not stop migrants from transiting across its territory, and if Congress does not act, he said, "the border's going to be closed, 100 per cent." "Sure it's going to have a negative impact on the economy," he said. "Security is more important to me than trade." Trump said Democrats were blocking reforms for political reasons but could fix the problem "in 45 minutes." He was not specific, but Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has asked Congress to give border officials the power to forcibly repatriate Central American illegal immigrants, including children who arrived alone, back to their countries. The threat to close the border, which handled some $612 billion worth of trade in 2018, sent shivers through the economy, and drew warnings from allies of the president. "Closing down the border would have potentially catastrophic economic impact on our country, and I would hope we would not be doing that sort of thing," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. His call was backed by the Chamber of Commerce, which said in a statement that while it backed immigration reform, closing the border "would inflict severe economic harm on American families, workers, farmers and manufacturers across the United States." 100,000 migrants a month Homeland Security officials said they were preparing for the possibility of a shutdown of at least some border entry points as they divert staff to deal with the flood of migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, expected to hit nearly 100,000 a month. Nielsen cut short an official trip to Europe to return for meetings early Tuesday on the border crisis, and on Monday Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he would be meeting Nielsen and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the crisis. Officials said facilities for handling the migrants -- who for the moment cannot be sent back after they cross the border and request asylum -- are overtaxed and understaffed, creating hazardous conditions. "We are in a full-blown emergency. The bottom line is all options are on the table right now," a senior Homeland Security official, who declined to be named, told journalists Tuesday. "The volume of vulnerable populations that are arriving is unsustainable... The humanitarian situation cannot be ignored and the security situation cannot be ignored." Trump said Mexican officials had reacted to his threat to close the border last week by clamping down on the caravans of migrants fleeing poverty and violence in the three Central American countries. Mexico "made a big step over the past two days," he said, adding that they would have to continue if they don't want the border closed. He also defended his decision to cut off "hundreds of millions of dollars" in US aid to the three countries, accusing them of arranging the caravans of migrants. The three "don't do anything for us," he said. Long lines at border ports On Monday, Nielsen ordered an "emergency surge" of personnel to deal with the situation, including moving 750 staff to areas of the border where the migrants arrive. Many were being diverted from official ports, leading to slowdowns in processing arriving visitors and commercial vehicles. Delays for incoming traffic were three hours at Brownsville, Texas, for the second straight day, and more than two hours in other areas. On the Mexican side, Andres Morales Arreola, head of operations for border crossings in Chihuahua state, said the border between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso had "collapsed" because so many US border officials have been reassigned to deal with the migrant influx. Long lines have formed at the border since Thursday, with wait times of up to eight hours for those trying to cross. Ciudad Juarez Mayor Armando Cabada Alvidrez called on the city's bustling manufacturing sector to temporarily cut back shipments to the US in order to reduce the backup. However, White House chief economist Larry Kudlow said they were working to minimise the economic impact from a closure of the border -- including keeping truck lanes open. "The question is, can we deal with that and not have any economic damage?" he told CNBC television. "I think the answer is we can and people are looking at different options, particularly if you can keep those freight lanes, those truck lanes open."

Trump says '100%' ready to shut down Mexico border

Mexicans tries to emigrate to US by crossing under the border fence

The United States cut off aid to several Central American countries President Donald Trump accuses of doing nothing to stop the outflow of US-bound migrants, the State Department announced Saturday.

At the instruction of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, "we are carrying out the president's direction and ending FY 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle (of Central America)," a State Department spokesperson said.

"We will be engaging Congress as part of this process," the spokesperson said.

The 2018 budget year ended months ago, and the State Department did not say how much unspent money was involved in the step, which could be largely symbolic.

The "Northern Triangle" includes El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, where tens of thousands of migrants have fled poverty and violence in recent years to try to enter the United States.&nbsp;

Over the last two years, $1.3 billion was earmarked for Central America for US official development aid, most of it to these three countries.

Trump blames their governments for looking the other way as "caravans" of migrants head through Mexico to reach the United States.

Trump has also accused Mexico of failing to curb the flow of migrants illegally entering the US, and threatened to close the US-Mexican border "next week" unless something changes.

In December, the United States and Mexico agreed to make significant investments in the "Northern Triangle" and southern Mexico, in the hope of stemming the influx of migrants.

The United States cut off aid to several Central American countries President Donald Trump accuses of doing nothing to stop the outflow of US-bound migrants, the State Department announced Saturday.

The United States cut off aid to several Central American countries President Donald Trump accuses of doing nothing to stop the outflow of US-bound migrants, the State Department announced Saturday. At the instruction of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, "we are carrying out the president's direction and ending FY 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle (of Central America)," a State Department spokesperson said. "We will be engaging Congress as part of this process," the spokesperson said. The 2018 budget year ended months ago, and the State Department did not say how much unspent money was involved in the step, which could be largely symbolic. The "Northern Triangle" includes El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, where tens of thousands of migrants have fled poverty and violence in recent years to try to enter the United States. Over the last two years, $1.3 billion was earmarked for Central America for US official development aid, most of it to these three countries. Trump blames their governments for looking the other way as "caravans" of migrants head through Mexico to reach the United States. Trump has also accused Mexico of failing to curb the flow of migrants illegally entering the US, and threatened to close the US-Mexican border "next week" unless something changes. In December, the United States and Mexico agreed to make significant investments in the "Northern Triangle" and southern Mexico, in the hope of stemming the influx of migrants.

US cuts aid for some Central American countries over migrants

President Donald Trump on Monday told Congress to slash funding for foreign aid and the State Department and increase spending for the military and the wall he wants to build on the US-Mexico border in his 2020 budget, the opening move in his next funding fight with Congress.

The Republican president's $4.7 trillion budget is expected to be rejected by Congress, where Democratic leaders on Sunday warned Trump against what they called a "repeat performance" of last year's funding war, which led to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/government-will-not-reopen-until-we-have-the-mexican-border-wall-trump-to-us-troops-186467">a five-week partial shutdown of the federal government</a>.

This year, the stakes are higher. The October 1 deadline for a funding deal to keep the government running coincides with the deadline to lift the debt limit. Without an increase in the limit, the US government would risk a default, which would shock the world economy.

Trump's budget asked for $8.6 billion to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, more than six times what Congress gave him for border projects in each of the past two fiscal years, and 6 percent more than he has corralled by invoking emergency powers this year after he failed to get the money he wanted.

Trump called for defence spending to rise by 4 per cent to $750 billion, using the emergency Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account - derided by conservatives as a slush fund - to skirt spending caps set out in a 2011 fiscal restraint law.

Non-defence spending was held below those caps, thanks to steep proposed funding cut to the State Department (23 per cent) and Environmental Protection Agency (31 per cent), among others. The White House also proposed reforms to mandatory spending programs such as food stamps to cut $22 billion.

Even with the cuts, which the White House said would add up to $2.7 trillion in savings over a decade, the budget office said budget would not balance until 2034, exceeding the traditional 10-year outlook.

Tax cuts have been a priority for the Republican White House and Congress in recent years, rather than deficit reduction. The deficit ran to $900 billion in 2019, and the national debt has ballooned to $22 trillion.

President Donald Trump on Monday told Congress to slash funding for foreign aid and the State Department and increase spending for the military and the wall he wants to build on the US-Mexico border in his 2020 budget, the opening move in his next funding fight with Congress.

President Donald Trump on Monday told Congress to slash funding for foreign aid and the State Department and increase spending for the military and the wall he wants to build on the US-Mexico border in his 2020 budget, the opening move in his next funding fight with Congress. The Republican president's $4.7 trillion budget is expected to be rejected by Congress, where Democratic leaders on Sunday warned Trump against what they called a "repeat performance" of last year's funding war, which led to a five-week partial shutdown of the federal government. This year, the stakes are higher. The October 1 deadline for a funding deal to keep the government running coincides with the deadline to lift the debt limit. Without an increase in the limit, the US government would risk a default, which would shock the world economy. Trump's budget asked for $8.6 billion to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, more than six times what Congress gave him for border projects in each of the past two fiscal years, and 6 percent more than he has corralled by invoking emergency powers this year after he failed to get the money he wanted. Trump called for defence spending to rise by 4 per cent to $750 billion, using the emergency Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account - derided by conservatives as a slush fund - to skirt spending caps set out in a 2011 fiscal restraint law. Non-defence spending was held below those caps, thanks to steep proposed funding cut to the State Department (23 per cent) and Environmental Protection Agency (31 per cent), among others. The White House also proposed reforms to mandatory spending programs such as food stamps to cut $22 billion. Even with the cuts, which the White House said would add up to $2.7 trillion in savings over a decade, the budget office said budget would not balance until 2034, exceeding the traditional 10-year outlook. Tax cuts have been a priority for the Republican White House and Congress in recent years, rather than deficit reduction. The deficit ran to $900 billion in 2019, and the national debt has ballooned to $22 trillion.

Slash foreign aid and increase funding for Mexico wall, military: Trump to Congress

The administration of US President Donald Trump has asked the Department of Defense to prepare to house up to 5,000 unaccompanied migrant children amid what it calls a mounting "crisis" at the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) "requested DoD support to identify space to house up to 5,000 unaccompanied alien children on DoD installations, if needed, through September 30, 2019," said Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis.

"DoD will work with the military services to identify potential locations for such support, and will work with HHS to assess any DoD facilities or suitable DoD land for potential use to provide temporary shelter for unaccompanied alien children," he said.&nbsp;

The request for beds is preventative -- they will not definitely be used.

But it comes amid a surge in the number of families and unaccompanied children crossing the US border from Mexico illegally, most of them fleeing poverty and violence in Central America. Most request asylum.

According to the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP), the number of minors apprehended after entering the country illegally without family in February hit 6,825, up from 5,119 in January and 4,968 in October.

CBP hands the children over to HHS's Administration for Children and Families, which seeks to place them with relatives or other families in the United States while their requests to remain in the country are processed, which can take two years.

The Administration for Children and Families said Thursday that they currently have about 11,500 such children in custody.

The figure changes daily, they said, because of new referrals from Homeland Security and releases of children to sponsors.

Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said Tuesday that illegal immigration in February surged to the highest level in years, with 76,000 people stopped or apprehended, and was straining government facilities.

"We are currently facing a humanitarian and national security crisis along our southwest border," he said.

"The vast increases in families and children coming across our border, in larger groups and in more remote areas, presents a unique challenge to our operations and facilities, and those of our partners."

On Wednesday Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said they were expecting the numbers to grow in the coming months.

Nielsen though said in many cases the children were being used as "pawns" to get into our country, and even "recycled" by smuggling rings to help multiple groups cross the border and get a foothold on US soil.

She said she sympathized with the migrants but insisted that, as Trump formally declared last month, "It is an emergency."

The administration of US President Donald Trump has asked the Department of Defense to prepare to house up to 5,000 unaccompanied migrant children amid what it calls a mounting "crisis" at the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has asked the Department of Defense to prepare to house up to 5,000 unaccompanied migrant children amid what it calls a mounting "crisis" at the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon said Thursday. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) "requested DoD support to identify space to house up to 5,000 unaccompanied alien children on DoD installations, if needed, through September 30, 2019," said Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis. "DoD will work with the military services to identify potential locations for such support, and will work with HHS to assess any DoD facilities or suitable DoD land for potential use to provide temporary shelter for unaccompanied alien children," he said. The request for beds is preventative -- they will not definitely be used. But it comes amid a surge in the number of families and unaccompanied children crossing the US border from Mexico illegally, most of them fleeing poverty and violence in Central America. Most request asylum. According to the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP), the number of minors apprehended after entering the country illegally without family in February hit 6,825, up from 5,119 in January and 4,968 in October. CBP hands the children over to HHS's Administration for Children and Families, which seeks to place them with relatives or other families in the United States while their requests to remain in the country are processed, which can take two years. The Administration for Children and Families said Thursday that they currently have about 11,500 such children in custody. The figure changes daily, they said, because of new referrals from Homeland Security and releases of children to sponsors. Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said Tuesday that illegal immigration in February surged to the highest level in years, with 76,000 people stopped or apprehended, and was straining government facilities. "We are currently facing a humanitarian and national security crisis along our southwest border," he said. "The vast increases in families and children coming across our border, in larger groups and in more remote areas, presents a unique challenge to our operations and facilities, and those of our partners." On Wednesday Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said they were expecting the numbers to grow in the coming months. Nielsen though said in many cases the children were being used as "pawns" to get into our country, and even "recycled" by smuggling rings to help multiple groups cross the border and get a foothold on US soil. She said she sympathized with the migrants but insisted that, as Trump formally declared last month, "It is an emergency."

US military asked to house 5,000 child migrants: Pentagon

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday he had ordered Mexican authorities to help two sisters of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman visit the drug lord in the United States following his conviction for narcotics trafficking.

During his regular morning news conference, Lopez Obrador said he had received a written request via a lawyer from Guzman's mother to provide "legal support" to the kingpin and to help his sisters get visas to visit him in the United States.

"Like any mother, she was asking me to help her son," Lopez Obrador told reporters.

"I gave instructions to facilitate everything so the sisters can go to the United States, and to help them in accordance with the law, and the rules of that country so they can visit him, or be in contact," he said.

The letter was delivered to Lopez Obrador during a trip to Guzman's home town earlier this month, a rare visit to the area by a president, after a jury in New York found the capo guilty of drug trafficking and other charges.

The veteran leftist, who took office as president at the start of December, said that the request for legal support was in the hands of the relevant Mexican authorities.

The 61-year-old Guzman, who is due to be sentenced in June, escaped from maximum security prisons in 2001 and 2015 in Mexico before his third and final capture in January 2016.

A year later, Mexico extradited him to the United States on the eve of President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Guzman rose to prominence as the boss of the Sinaloa Cartel, which security experts and counternarcotics officials long described as the most powerful outfit in the trafficking of drugs to the United States.

Trump has justified his repeated demands for a wall to be built on the US-Mexico border with the need to stop drugs and illegal immigrants entering the United States.

Lopez Obrador, who has sought to avoid conflict with Trump over the wall, is exploring the legalization of some drugs. During his election campaign, he floated the idea of granting amnesty to perpetrators of less serious drug-related offences.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday he had ordered Mexican authorities to help two sisters of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman visit the drug lord in the United States following his conviction for narcotics trafficking.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday he had ordered Mexican authorities to help two sisters of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman visit the drug lord in the United States following his conviction for narcotics trafficking. During his regular morning news conference, Lopez Obrador said he had received a written request via a lawyer from Guzman's mother to provide "legal support" to the kingpin and to help his sisters get visas to visit him in the United States. "Like any mother, she was asking me to help her son," Lopez Obrador told reporters. "I gave instructions to facilitate everything so the sisters can go to the United States, and to help them in accordance with the law, and the rules of that country so they can visit him, or be in contact," he said. The letter was delivered to Lopez Obrador during a trip to Guzman's home town earlier this month, a rare visit to the area by a president, after a jury in New York found the capo guilty of drug trafficking and other charges. The veteran leftist, who took office as president at the start of December, said that the request for legal support was in the hands of the relevant Mexican authorities. The 61-year-old Guzman, who is due to be sentenced in June, escaped from maximum security prisons in 2001 and 2015 in Mexico before his third and final capture in January 2016. A year later, Mexico extradited him to the United States on the eve of President Donald Trump's inauguration. Guzman rose to prominence as the boss of the Sinaloa Cartel, which security experts and counternarcotics officials long described as the most powerful outfit in the trafficking of drugs to the United States. Trump has justified his repeated demands for a wall to be built on the US-Mexico border with the need to stop drugs and illegal immigrants entering the United States. Lopez Obrador, who has sought to avoid conflict with Trump over the wall, is exploring the legalization of some drugs. During his election campaign, he floated the idea of granting amnesty to perpetrators of less serious drug-related offences.

Mexican president to help 'El Chapo's' sisters visit him in US

Watch: WION Gravitas, February 19th, 2019

us-mexico-border

Us Mexico Border, News on Us Mexico Border, stories on Us Mexico Border, articles on Us Mexico Border, Us Mexico Border stories at Wion, Us Mexico Border news, Us Mexico Border latest news

us mexico-border