Congressman’s Letter to President Urges Action on Border Crisis

A Texas Congressman wants a greater sense of urgency from Washington on how best to deal with the humanitarian crisis on our southern border.

Congress adjourned for its August recess, and lawmakers will not return to work until the second week of September.

Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, whose district covers South Texas, said the crisis on the border can’t wait that long.

Cuellar fired off a letter to President Obama, urging him to arrange a meeting to resolve the serious situation as soon as possible.

“I am asking the president to sit down with Democrats and Republicans, a small group of us that have been working on this issue,” Cuellar said. “And I think if he is willing to sit down or get the Homeland Security Secretary to sit down, I feel very confident we can work this out.”

He said such an agreement would help Congress decide on the appropriate course of action.

Democrats and Republicans are divided on how much money to appropriate to deal with the surge of undocumented children from Central America.

There is also disagreement on whether to amend a 2008 immigration law to help speed up the deportation process.