The Heat: US immigration crisis

The Heat

Disturbing stories and poignant images emerged this week in the U.S. immigration crisis.

Lawyers who visited border patrol stations across the U.S. state of Texas reported inhumane and unsanitary conditions for young children and mothers. Many of the unaccompanied children were said to be hungry, sick and dirty.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said their facilities are overcrowded and could run out of funding by the end of the month.

In response, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate passed their own border relief bills and must now find a compromise. And, a devastating photo of a Salvadoran father and his daughter who drowned in the Rio Grande River brought into focus the harsh reality and the risks families are taking to reach the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump blamed party politics.

To discuss all of this:

  • Toby Gialluca is an attorney who visited a U.S. border patrol facility in McAllen, Texas.
  • Maria Perez is an associate director of the Atlantic Council’s Latin America Center.
  • Rafael Bernal is a staff writer with the U.S. political newspaper, The Hill.
  • Michael Johns is the co-founder and national leader of the U.S. Tea Party movement.

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