Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) last week introduced a bill that would help the United States better handle the rising cost of the tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors who are crossing into the United States from Central America.

The Unaccompanied Alien Children Assistance Control Act, H.R. 5141, would direct the president to reduce foreign aid from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico by $15,000 per child who originated from that particular country. The money saved by this bill could then be redirected to assist states with the rising costs of these children, as well as aid in border security efforts.

“President Obama’s open door policy on immigration has resulted in a huge strain on our system,” Burgess said. “With the number of unaccompanied immigrant children crossing into the U.S. expected to grow to six figures by next year, it is clear that something must be done to offset the tremendous cost that this crisis on our border is costing Texans and citizen of other states. The U.S. already gives generously in foreign aid to these countries, but we cannot continue to do so if our limited resources are dedicated to caring for these migrant children who have been sent to our country illegally. This bill is an important first step in dealing with the crisis that is before us in a common sense way.”

Burgess has been active on the issue of unaccompanied children on the Texas border. He traveled to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio to tour the facility holding the recent immigrants in June, and travelled to McAllen, Texas to tour the border and intake facility. As a physician, he has expressed concern about the health and cost of care for these minors and has repeatedly called on President Obama to strengthen his position on this issue and visit the border himself. 

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