Gov. Jerry Brown spoke out Friday about the exodus of Central American immigrants illegally entering the U.S. at its southern border, calling it “a human problem.”
His comments came a day after Roman Catholic bishops in California urged Congress “to appropriate the resources necessary to care for unaccompanied children.”
Since last fall tens of thousands of Central American immigrants have tried to cross into the United States. Many have been unaccompanied children. At the American Federation of Teachers convention in Los Angeles, Brown said politics should not be a factor in dealing with the influx.
“We got a problem, and the only way we solve it is if Republicans and Democrats, if congressmen and congresswomen, work with the president to deal with a very difficult problem," he said. "And it’s a human problem. Not a problem for the next politician jumping on board to get himself ahead.”
Brown said presidents from Central America should also be included in the discussions. Many migrants are fleeing unsafe conditions in their home countries.
The U.S. Border Patrol had been transferring many of the detained immigrants to Southern California for processing, but it will now stop the practice which had sparked protests on both sides of the issue.
The San Diego Catholic Diocese shared the statement from the California Catholic Conference that was sent to pastors across the state Thursday.
The message emphasized the bishops’ concern about the safety and security of the thousands of unaccompanied minors entering the county illegally.
“The gravity of this situation transcends politics; it is truly a humanitarian crisis that calls all of us, Catholics and others of good will, to respond with compassion and with urgent action,” the statement said.
