Como Solucionar el Problema: A look at Expert Opinions and Solutions

Beatriz Manz

Since the crisis began in 2014, many advocacy groups and experts have offered their opinions on the humanitarian crisis occurring in the southern border. What we’ve noticed is a move from a foreign lens of possible solutions to more domestic based solutions as children continue to attempt entering the US. Though opinions continue developing, there has been one predominant theme expressed, the United States has the responsibility to treat the minors with the respect and dignity they deserve.

For instance, Beatriz Manz, UC Berkeley professor of geography and ethnic studies, expressed her opinion and possible solutions at the height of the crisis on July 2014. According to Professor Manz, we must not forget the active role the United States had in creating violence in the region by economically supporting oppressive military regimes in El Salvador and Guatemala. Eventually, this partnership between the US government and the Central American oligarchies in the 80’s resulted in extreme violence, a culture of impunity, and weak judicial systems. In her blog, Professor Manz offers two possible solutions. First, the children’s rights must be fully respected and treated humanely. Second, she mentions a long-term Central American-style Marshall Plan is needed to “address the structural, economic, and social problems these countries face.” Though some may argue this could be an extremely expensive fix, Manz believes this would be more cost-effective in the long run. Ultimately, Professor’s Manz’s solutions and opinions reflect the foreign lens of fixing the problems in Central America that some experts advocated for at the beginning of the crisis.

However, as time has progressed and the influx of children continues, the conversation is now focusing on how the Obama administration is dealing with the issue domestically. According to an opinion piece written by Mary Turck for Aljazeera America, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is failing to properly investigate temporary placement homes. Turck highlights that since October 2013, 95,000 children were placed with sponsors. Sponsorship of unaccompanied children is supposed to provide an alternative to the detention centers while their case is being reviewed. Yet, as the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations confirmed, more than two dozen cases of neglect and abuse of resettled children have been found. These include sponsors forcing children to work on egg farms for 12 hours a day, as well as potential sponsors trying to get children who are not even related to them. Turck believes the solution to the problem isn’t deporting children as soon as possible; rather the Obama administration and HHS should make sure that background checks and verification of sponsors is being done properly. Finally, Turck advocates for temporary protection status for those cases which asylum is denied. This, she believes is crucial in assuring the safety of the children both here in the US and in their home countries.

In 2014, the Unaccompanied Children Crisis was thought to be a temporary problem. Yet, no one expected for the crisis to continue this long. Expert opinions have slowly gravitated to more of a domestic policy viewpoint as the crisis fails to die down. However, since 2014, there has been one key point all experts have agree on, the children must be protected and treated humanely. Failure to not follow this simple point increases the possibility for cases like those mentioned above to continue.

Reference:

Professor Beatriz Manz

http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2014/07/11/putting-the-childrens-migration-in-context/

Mary Turck

http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2016/1/central-american-children-face-new-peril-in-the-united-states.html