House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) sent a letter to President Obama on Wednesday questioning his support for changes to a 2008 law that created disparate treatment for immigrants from Mexico and other nations.
The 2008 law was intended to protect victims of sexual trafficking, but it created a loophole that has allowed child immigrants from noncontiguous countries (such as Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador) to argue for asylum before being deported.
Boehner wrote in his letter:
House Republicans have been clear that we want to work with you to help the victims of the terrible humanitarian crisis at our southern border–particularly the children, who have been cruelly duped into making a perilous journey.
Our Appropriations Committee is continuing to review your supplemental request. But, as I have said many times, the American people will not support providing additional money unless you work with both parties to address the causes of this tragedy.
Earlier today, our Border Security working group–led by Rep. Kay Granger (R., Texas)–briefed our Conference on recommended policy changes to address this crisis. One of their key recommendations is changing the 2008 law, which created the disparate treatment for migrants from nations other than Mexico and made it more difficult to resolve this crisis.
President Obama supported making changes to the 2008 law earlier this year in public statements, but did not include changes in his formal supplemental request. According to Boehner, senior Democrats are backpedalling on their support of changes to the 2008 law.
Boehner has asked the president to public reiterate his support.