I have read an editorial, The Border Crisis Isnt Over, published online by The New York Times on October 10, 2014. According to the editorial, thousands of young Central Americans have crossed the border in southern Texas to escape violence in their countries. The government has set-up thousands of detention beds and has implemented high numbers of deportations. The stand of the writer on the immigration surge is to provide more legal support for the young migrants because the help provided by the government and the nonprofit organizations are not enough. The Department of Health and Human Services is going to provide $9 million for legal assistance of 2,600 minors and the New York City Council together with the Robin Hood Foundation and the New York Community Trust will provide around $2 million for 1,000 children. Although the writers position on the matter is for a good cause I do not think that this is sufficient and effective to help the majority of the people coming into our country seeking for refuge. The author failed to state in the editorial how much it will cost the government to provide these migrants with the said legal assistance, what benefits they can get from it and if this method will fix the surge in immigration.
There is 77% increase in population of unaccompanied Central American migrants in the Southwest Border, from 38, 759 children ages 0 to 17 in 2013 to 68, 541 in 2014 (U.S. Customs and Border Protection). If we do a simple math according to the information we have gathered, only 3, 600 out of 68, 541 or 5% of children will be given legal assistance with the financial assistance of $11 million provided by the government and the nonprofit organizations. What about the remaining 64, 941 children? Using a simple ratio and proportion (3,600 children/$11 million : 64,941 children/ x million), to provide legal assistance for the remaining children, the government will need additional 198 million ($198, 430, 833.
