WASHINGTON -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials need help to address the number of children coming into the country illegally, U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin said Thursday during a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday.
Nearly 63,000 unaccompanied children, most from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, have entered the United States since last October, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday. The agency also announced that the number of children entering the country has dropped significantly in the past month.
Griffin, a Republican from Little Rock, visited the Hidalgo International Bridge in Hidalgo, Texas, and the Border Patrol McAllen Station in McAllen. He also went to the Rio Grande Valley Centralized Processing Center in McAllen and toured parts of the border along the Rio Grande with Border Patrol agents.
Griffin said by phone that border control officials said that deploying the National Guard would help with the influx. He also said Congress should modify a 2008 law that makes it harder to deport children who enter the country illegally from countries other than Canada or Mexico.
Meant to protect human-trafficking victims, the law requires a formal asylum hearing to determine whether there is a "credible threat" the children will be harmed if they are sent back. Children from Mexico and Canada do not automatically receive the same hearing.
Griffin said the country needs to revisit the definition of "credible threat" because smugglers are taking advantage of how broad the definition currently is.
Border Patrol agents told him "the kids and others being smuggled are coached on what to say in terms of credible fear," he said. "Almost anybody in the country of Mexico could say they have a credible fear of violence."
IN THE DISTRICT
This will be the second week of the five-week August recess.
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford helped deliver packages for UPS -- while wearing the standard brown uniform, his staff said -- after a meeting at the package company's delivery center in Jonesboro.
The Jonesboro Republican also visited visited Ozark Mountain Poultry on Monday and stopped by the Black River Technical College's Greene County Industrial Training Center in Paragould on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he toured DaVita Marked Tree Dialysis center in Marked Tree and spent time at the Roadmaster Driver's School in West Memphis. While there, he successfully maneuvered one of the big rigs on the training course, his staff said.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack delivered Meals on Wheels to Fayetteville senior citizens on Tuesday. On Wednesday the Rogers Republican toured Pruitt Inc. and went to Northside High School's varsity basketball practice, his staff said.
On Thursday, Womack's staff will be available to meet with constituents at the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, 516 Village Circle in Eureka Springs.
This week, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor continues a statewide tour. He's highlighting legislation he filed that would provide tax benefits to companies that move to the United States and require taxpayer funded projects be made with American products. Last week, the Little Rock Democrat met with manufacturers and community leaders in Helena-West Helena, Batesville, Hot Springs, Conway and Fort Smith.
On Monday, U.S. Sen. John Boozman begins a tour of Arkansas agriculture. The Rogers Republican is scheduled to meet with producers and ranchers and will visit farms, production facilities and rural co-operatives.
Tour stops include: Maus' Discovery Farm in Atkins; Wye Mountain Flower and Berries farm in Roland; Gillam Farms in Judsonia; Precision Ag Partners in Carlisle; Delta Plastics Plant in Stuttgart; Arkansas Farm Bureau's annual meeting, in Dewitt; Coy's Honey Farm in Jonesboro; Boyhood Home of Johnny Cash in Dyess; Whitton Farms in Tyronza; Matthews Ridgeview Farm in Wynne; and the Riceland mill in Jonesboro.
U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton held a meeting with veterans Tuesday at the VFW Post in Conway, his staff said. Friday the Dardanelle Republican spoke at the Arkansas Cattleman's Association Convention in Fort Smith.
On Saturday, Cotton ran in the Hope Watermelon Festival 5K.
Pryor's schedule also included a stop in Hope.
Cotton and Pryor, who are competing for the U.S. Senate seat, both participated in the watermelon-eating contest.
STAFF CHANGES
Mary Robbins has joined Pryor's campaign as a spokesman. The North Little Rock native previously worked for the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. She has a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
FUNDRAISER
The Democratic Party of Arkansas is holding a lunch fundraiser benefiting Pryor, featuring singer Carole King on Monday.
The $250-per-person ticket event is scheduled at the home of Beth and Mike Coulson. King, a four-time Grammy winner, will speak but not perform at the lunch.
INTERNS
Boozman is seeking fall interns for his offices in Arkansas and Washington, D.C.
According to a release from his office, priority is given to Arkansas students who have completed at least their sophomore year of college. The positions are unpaid.
More information on how to apply is available at www.boozman.senate.gov.
KICKER
Former Razorback Zach Hocker made his National Football League debut Thursday night during the Washington Redskins' preseason game.
The rookie kicker had two field goals and a point after touchdown against the New England Patriots. The Redskins won 23-6.
Womack is excited to watch the Russellville native play professionally, Womack spokesman Claire Burghoff said.
"Steve used to broadcast high school football games for [his] dad's radio station, so he's been following Zach for a long time," she said.
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact us at (202) 662-7690 or swire@arkansasonline.com.
SundayMonday on 08/10/2014