Crisis on the Border a Direct Consequence of President Obama’s Lawlessness

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today toured the facility in San Antonio currently housing increasing numbers of unaccompanied minors that have crossed the Southwest border. Following the tour, Sen. Cruz and Attorney General Abbott held a press conference.

“We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis unfolding that is the direct consequence of President Obama’s lawlessness,” Sen. Cruz said. “We just toured this Air Force facility, where up to 1,200 children are being cared for… but they have come through harrowing circumstances.

“When the President of the United States prevents the Border Patrol from following the law, and enforcing our immigration laws, when the President of the United States announces to the world amnesty for those who have broken the law, the consequence is people respond to that, and the way they respond to that is handing over their children to drug dealers and vicious cartels.

“This is heartbreaking, but we need to act to stop it by number one finally securing the border and number two, by not offering amnesty which only incentivizes more and more people to violate the law and in this instance endanger the safety and lives of their kids.”

Last week, Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson urging him to consider Attorney General Abbott’s proposal that would enable the State of Texas to take decisive action to secure the Southwest border and prohibit further endangering thousands of unaccompanied minors. Read the full release and letter here.

Recently, the Border and Customs Protection Service stated that the number of unaccompanied children entering the United States spiked:

• In fiscal year (FY) 2011, there were about 6,000; in FY2012, that number rose to 14,000; In FY2013, it escalated to 34,000;
• CBP officials estimate 90,000 may be apprehended by the end of FY2014.
• The administration expects 145,000 minors to enter the United States in FY2015.

In 2013, the Border Patrol reported the emergencies and crimes it encountered, most of them being cases where the illegal immigrants themselves were the victims. They recorded 2,346 rescues, 461 assaults, and 445 deaths.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that six of the eight major Mexican drug cartels have networks operating in the State, and several studies estimate that thousands of women are trafficked through the Southwest border for sexual exploitation.

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