Texas bishop speaks to House committee about unaccompanied migrant children
June 27, 2014
Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso testified before the House Judiciary Committee on June 25 on the plight of unaccompanied minors who seek to enter the United States.
“Too often, and especially recently in the media, these children are being looked at with distrust and as capable adult actors, instead of as vulnerable and frightened children who have been introduced to the injustice and horror of the world at an early age,” he said at the conclusion of his 15 pages of testimony.
“Anyone who hears the stories of these children would be moved, as they are victims fleeing violence and terror, not perpetrators,” he added. “I ask you to consider the individual stories of these vulnerable child migrants and open your minds and hearts to their plight while seeking meaningful and long-term regional solutions. I ask you to respond to the needs of these children, not to turn them away or ostracize them, as Americans are a compassionate people.”
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Further information:
- Bishop In House Committee Testimony: Nation ‘Must Not Turn Our Back’ On Unaccompanied Children Crossing Border (USCCB)
- Full text of testimony (USCCB)
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Posted by: John J Plick -
Jun. 28, 2014 11:14 AM ET USA
The problem is is that the children are coming at all and in such numbers. Showcasing the innocence of any child does not justify anarchy. The children may not be the "capable adult actors" but those "capable adult actors" do indeed exist and are nothing less than criminals. The beggar on the street does not have the right to physically accost passer-bys for resources, neither does any Churchman or politician have the right to ignore civil law in order to engage in social engineering.
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Posted by: Defender -
Jun. 27, 2014 8:31 PM ET USA
It seems that that some of these children are rejoining their illegal parent(s) in the US. How parents can leave their children to fend for themselves doesn't speak well of them and they should be prosecuted in their own countries. Perhaps orphanages can be set up in the countries they are from? Regardless, introducing them in this country isn't fair or right.
