Replies

I got an answer from Jennifer Murphy of the TNCPPC at 1:00 this afternoon.

Rather than reprint her answer, most of which was boilerplate not directly addressing my questions, let me post my follow-up email to her.

Dear Jennifer,

Thank you so much for your quick and detailed response. Permit me to quote some of your statements,together with my questions:

"I don’t think those seeking asylum should be grouped with trafficking for labor or sex."

The traffickers know their way in and out of the system. And they can lie convincingly. There's nothing to stop them from claiming their clients or victims are seeking asylum. The victims themselves may indeed be seeking asylum, but may not (yet) know they are in the hands of traffickers.

How do you separate the traffickers from the clients/victims they are traveling with, without detaining them until their I.D. can be verified?

"Those that do that don’t usually present themselves as persons seeking safety from their own government."

As I understand it, the border-crossers are often coached by the coyotes-smugglers with the right kind of cover stories. Once again, detention and verification of their I.D. would be needed. And if detention is needed, wouldn't the minors need to be separated from the (as-yet unidentified) adults they're traveling with, for their own protection?

These families are leaving their country because of the gangs.

And as we know, the gangs are crossing the border, too. What would stop them? The MS-13 alone, numbering about 10,000 in the U.S., have strongholds in Compton, Los Angeles, Fresno, Santa Cruz (CA) as well as Boston MA, Long Island NY, Langley Park and Tacoma Park MD. They recruit by threatening and terrorizing adolescent asylum-seekers.

While here in the U.S., MS-13 partners with other U.S. Latino gang allies like the Sinaloa Cartel, Los Zetas, etc. They also get into gang wars HERE IN THE U.S. with their rivals the Bloods, the Crips, the Juarez Cartel, etc.

They cross the border with the asylum seekers.

How can you sort them out or stop them without detention?

How can you keep them away from their asylum-seeking victims, without safe detention?

How do you keep the children safe in detention, without separating the children from the unidentified adults, some of who may be falsely claiming to be their parents, family members or relatives??

Thank you for your consideration of these important questions.

Sincerely,

[Signed]