U.S. needs to take a hard stance on Central American children

Right now, record numbers of Central American children are crossing the border into South Texas and turning themselves in to the border patrol.

They are banking on a policy that allows youngsters from Central American countries to be released to an adult already living in the U.S. while awaiting their hearing.

These youth are flooding in with the intent of exploiting this loophole in our policy and ultimately receiving amnesty. If all these children are allowed to remain in our country, it will place an additional drain on an already shrinking budget and more stress on available services.

While I sympathize with the children and the conditions they are fleeing, I believe our resources should be used to take care of our own citizens first. Unemployment is still high, services continue to be cut and the cost of living continues to rise. The government needs to take a hard stance and send these children home.

In addition, we must do whatever is needed to close our borders, even if this means calling out the National Guard. The increasing tide of illegal immigration must be stopped.