The influx of unaccompanied minors crossing into America from Mexico has Congress, President Barack Obama and the presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras at an impasse on how to deal with the overwhelming flow of these illegal immigrants into the United States.

With the increase in violence, drug trafficking and the rape of young girls, many Central American parents are opting to pay "coyotes," human smugglers, to send their minor children across the border to protect them.

While many of these children have already been released to sponsors in the United States, many more are still crossing the border.

According to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, states taking in the most children are California, Texas, Florida, New York, Maryland and Virginia.

In Pennsylvania, more than 100 children have been placed with sponsors including Bethany Children's Home in Berks County.

During a recent visit to Washington, D.C., to speak with Obama about the crisis, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina spoke with The Washington Post.

In a July 25 article, Hernandez is quoted as saying the historic influx of illegal immigrants from Central America is caused primarily by the high demand for illicit drugs in the United States.

"If you look at the root of the problem, you'll realize your country has enormous responsibility for this," he said. "Drug trafficking to the United States generates violence, reduces opportunities, generates migration because this is where there's the largest consumption of drugs. And we're on the route."

A second article in The Washington Post, also dated July 25, states "Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina believes the United States should provide at least $2 billion in aid to Central American countries in order "to attack the root of the problem" causing recent waves of illegal immigration.

"We say that with just 10 percent of that money ($20 billion) that you're investing on the U.S. border, it could be spent at minimum in the three countries and I'm confident that it would be much more profitable than investing it on border security or border control with Mexico."

Recently Obama asked Congress for $3.7 billion to improve security along the border, provide better housing for the children while they're in custody and to speed up their deportation proceedings.

These illegal immigrants are children, human beings who deserve to be loved and protected.

America's debt may be $17.6 trillion but Congress, Obama and the presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras need to agree on appropriate funding and a plan to help these children and ensure their safety.

Whether the United States provides funds to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras; or money to improve border security, better housing for the children or to speed up their deportation proceedings, these three Central America countries also need to do everything they can to control the gang violence and drug trafficking, so if or when these children are returned home they are safe.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press