Obama seeks $3.7 billion to deal with border kids

By: 10 years ago

Immigrant families and children’s advocates rally in response to President Barack Obama’s statement on the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the United States, outside the Los Angeles Federal building Monday, July 7, 2014. AP

WASHINGTON — The Associated Press has learned that President Barack Obama is asking Congress for $3.8 billion to confront the influx of minors from Central America. The figure also includes extra money for fighting wildfires in the West.

The White House says the money would help increase the detention, care and transportation of unaccompanied children. It says the money would increase the capacity of immigration courts, increase prosecution of smuggling networks and help Central American countries repatriate border crossers sent back from the United States.

The request for money did not include proposals for legislative changes that the White House wants. White House officials said Tuesday they still intend to work with Congress to increase the administration’s authority to deport minor border crossers.

About $625 million of the emergency spending request would go to fight wildfires in Western states.