Political Quotes

“I say to the Senator from Illinois, here is how it works--I don't think we disagree about the law or the origin of the law but how it works in application. These children are now being placed with family members who may not be documented. They may have entered the country in violation of the immigration law, but because it is perceived as a relatively safe place for them to temporarily reside pending further court proceedings, they place the children with a family member in the United States. Absent a family member, I presume they will be placed with a legal guardian or foster family or the like while the legal proceedings go forward. Here is the practical problem: Once they make it here to the United States, if they never return to the court in response to their notice to appear, then they are lost forever to the immigration enforcement system and they become a part of the great American melting pot, never to be heard from or seen again unless they commit some other crime. That is how the press reports it in Central America and elsewhere. At least that is the report we hear from migrants themselves. They refer to it as a permiso, which is a notice to appear. At that point they think they are home free and never have to show up for their court hearing, and that it is as good as permission to enter the country. I believe that is what actually is happening.”