Guinta: Influx of migrants a 'manufactured crisis'
Frank Guinta blames the recent influx of Central American migrants on a 2012 executive order by Pres. Obama that temporarily defers deportations for some migrants who entered the country as children – without mentioning the fact that the program only applies to those who have been living in the United States since 2007.
“The New York Times reported just late last week that almost 300,000 Central American migrants had been detained since April, which includes the more than 50,000 children, and that is because of an executive order issued by the president back in 2012,” Guinta told radio host Jack Heath in a July 8, 2014 interview.
“President Obama issued a memorandum that’s enforced by the Department of Homeland Security which essentially says if you’re under the age of 31 but you came to this country before the age of 16, you can stay here for an additional two years,” the 1st district congressional candidate continued.
“It’s called DACA, the deferred action for childhood arrivals program. So that is essentially amnesty for anyone who wants to come into the country that meets that simple age requirement,” Guinta said.
As the Department of Homeland Security notes, “deferred action does not confer lawful status upon an individual, nor does it excuse any previous or subsequent periods of unlawful presence.” To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have “continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007.”
Nevertheless, Guinta claimed “the immediate problem” will be resolved if the president rescinds DACA. He called the influx of migrants a “manufactured crisis.”
“There’s no coincidence that the president took this executive action and then all of a sudden we had double the amount of migrants coming over the border in the course of one year,” Guinta said.
“I think they’re trying to force amnesty through executive fiat and then say, well now we need two billion dollars to take care of the people that are coming across the border,” he said.
“So this is somewhat of a manufactured crisis from an executive order?” asked Heath.
“I think it is,” replied Guinta.