Border Crisis Forum

1. Border Crisis Forum Hosted by the Office of U.S. Congressman Kerry Bentivolio

2. Forum Format • Current Situation at the Border • Federal Immigration Laws • TVRR • UAC • The President’s Executive Orders • Deferred Action • Crisis in Michigan • Fact-Finding Mission to Central America • Human Trafficking • Public Health Concerns • Legislative Update • Sponsored legislation • Upcoming legislation • Q&A • Written questions • Name and location • Relevant to topic

3. Communication with Federal Agencies • Only HHS & ICE responded to our questions • ALL federal agencies refused to send representatives to answer your questions • Michigan Governor following situation but federal responsibility • SNAPSHOT from the Feds • HHS is lead coordinator for all federal agencies • CDC is NOT involved with current public health concerns and current border crisis • ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations currently has 129 Fugitive Operations Teams deployed nationwide, two of which are deployed in the state of Michigan.

4. Current Situation at the Border Overview About 700 miles of our 1,950 mile border with Mexico is fenced off. FY15 Funding for Homeland Security Drugs, cartels Coyotes/human smugglers

5. Federal Immigration Laws • William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act, (TVPRA) • Designed to combat trafficking of children • Passed bi-partisan, voice vote in 2008 • Signed into law by G.W. Bush • Sets forth special rules for unaccompanied alien children from contiguous countries. • States, with specified exceptions, that the care and custody of unaccompanied alien children in the United States shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. • Authorizes the Secretary of Heath and Human Services to award grants to, and enter into contracts with, voluntary agencies to carry out such responsibilities.

6. Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) • An unaccompanied alien child is a child who has: • no lawful immigration status in the United States; • has not attained 18 years of age; and, • with respect to whom, there is no parent or legal guardian in the United States, or no parent or legal guardian in the United States available to provide care and physical custody.

7. Special Rules for unaccompanied alien children from contiguous countries • Official U.S. Policy • ensure that unaccompanied alien children in the United States are safely repatriated to their country of nationality or of last habitual residence. • Protect children from human trafficking • Children returned so long as: • Not a victim of trafficking • No credible evidence that such child is at risk of being trafficked upon return • No fear of returning to home country • Child can make INDEPENDENT decision to withdraw application to U.S.

8. Southwest Border Unaccompanied Alien Children

9. The Children • Around 90 percent of non-Mexican and non-Canadian children coming across the border are placed with family or guardians in the United States. • Majority of children crossing are NOT UAC, and thus should be returned safely and humanely. • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell recently testified that approximately 55 percent of released alien children are released to parents and another 30 percent are released to other family members. • Mark Greenberg, acting assistant secretary within HHS, recently testified that, thus far in fiscal year 2014, approximately 95 percent of children released went to a parent, relative or non-relative sponsor.

10. Unaccompanied Alien Children Encountered by Fiscal Year

11. "In effect, the President is preparing to assume for himself the absolute power to set immigration law in America. The absolute power to determine who may enter and who may work—no matter what the law says—by the millions.” – Senator Jeff Sessions, 7/28/14

12. The President’s Executive Orders • Deferred Action Guidelines • Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; • Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday; • Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time; • Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS; • Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012; • Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and; • Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

14. Crisis in Michigan From October 1, 2013 to July 18, 2014, 102 children have been released from the UAC program to sponsors in Michigan HHS NOT required to notify governors or Congress of children in state/districts • Bethany Christian Foster Services, Grand Rapids • 2 locations • Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, Lansing • Customs & Border Patrol • Big increase in crime targeting illegal immigrants in Southeast Detroit. • Victims will not contact law enforcement out of fear of deportation • Rape • Theft • “Everybody knows who is who on the streets” – CBP Detroit

15. Fact-Finding Mission to Central America • Sponsored by House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) • Traveled to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala • Met with government officials, faith-based organizations, and young children

16. 3 Step Immigration Plan • Secure the border • Enforce the laws on the books • Hold Mexico and Central American countries accountable for their citizens and borders • THEN we can discuss immigration reform

17. Fact-Finding Mission to Central America

18. Fact-Finding Mission to Central America Detroit, Michigan, USA El Salvador, Central America

19. Human Trafficking • Amnesty makes us accessories to human trafficking • Lawmakers in Michigan estimate that every month up to 150 girls under the age of 18 are sold into the world of sex trafficking, according to the task force it’s a $32 billion industry across the world.—Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force • According to the U.S. Department of Justice's statistics on human trafficking, 2,515 incidents of human trafficking were recorded nationwide between January 2008 and June 2010. • Of those incidents, 1,016 involved the sexual exploitation of a child, 1,218 involved the sexual exploitation of adults, and 350 involved labor trafficking.

20. Public Health ConcernsHHS • Well-child Exam • Administration of appropriate childhood vaccinations • varicella • Measles • Mumps • Rubella • Meningococcal disease • Pertussis • Infectious children • Isolation • Treatment • HHS is providing medical support at CBP detention facility in Nogales, Arizona. • Allowed HHS to provide vaccinations and medical screening to children before they are placed in HHS shelters.

21. Legislative Update • Bills and Resolutions • Birthright Citizenship Act • Illegal Entry Accountability Act • New Illegal Deduction Elimination “IDEA” Act • H.Res.326 NO AMNESTY • Letters and Appropriations • FY14 DHS • FY14 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development • FY14 Commerce, Justice, and Science • Rep. Brooks (R-AL) and Rep. Stockman (R-TX) letters to Speaker Boehner in OPPOSITION to any amnesty legislation and/or conference with Senate “Gang of Eight” Immigration bill

22. Border Supplemental Appropriations Bill • Gives the Administration money with no accountability • This is not an “emergency” this is a crisis of the Administrations own doing • NO certainty this would not be conferenced or held hostage by Harry Reid and the Senate’s never-ending push for amnesty • Does not control overreach of executive authority through funding • Adds more CBP but does not address the policies which created this crisis • Adds more asylum judges without reforming the asylum and refugee policies • Basically creates an assembly line of permanent residence • Christians in Iraq are the real refugees; 200+ young girls kidnapped in Nigeria are refugees. The people coming across from Central America are not refugees

23. Question & Answer • If we could not get to your question, please submit via email to: • Shelby.Emmett@mail.house.gov and we will answer your question promptly.