WASHINGTON,U.S.A. — US President Barack Obama’s
administration is planning an operation to round up and expel migrant families
fleeing drought and violence in Central America, reports said today.
The flow of families and unaccompanied children crossing
into the United States from Mexico slowed in 2015, but the 
numbers surged
upwards again in October and November.
numbers surged
upwards again in October and November.
Several Latin American countries are in the grip of violent
lawlessness and the El Nino weather pattern has plunged several countries in
the region into drought.
The Department of Homeland Security did not dispute
anonymously-sourced reports in the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal that
a crackdown is imminent.
According to the reports, hundreds of families living in the
United States whose asylum requests have been denied will be rounded up and
sent home.
DHS’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Gillian
Christensen told AFP that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson “has
consistently said our border is not open to illegal immigration.
“If individuals come here illegally, do not qualify for
asylum or other relief, and have final orders of removal, they will be sent
back consistent with our laws and our values.”
Any such operation would be controversial.
Refugee rights activists argue the families are fleeing
corruption, gang violence and drought in their homelands and should be treated
as refugees.
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