Child migrants a humanitarian emergency, says Francis

Pope Francis has described the plight of child migrants travelling to the United States as a humani­tarian emergency and called for urgent measures to help them.

In a letter read at a meeting on migration in Mexico City this week, the Pope said that social and economic development in Central America and Mexico was the long-term priority in stemming the flow of migrants.

“Every day the numbers increase and such a humanitarian emergency demands in the first place urgent measures to protect and welcome these children,” said the Pope. “However, these measures are not enough if they are not accompanied by a policy of informing people about the dangers of the trip and above all of promoting the development of the countries from which the children originate.”

The Pope’s message came as figures newly released by the US Government showed that 57,000 children have tried to cross the border between Mexico and the US in the last nine months. They endure long journeys in terrible conditions and are prey to ruthless trafficking gangs. “They travel to escape poverty and violence,” said the Pope in his message, which was read by the Vatican’s nuncio to Mexico, Christophe Pierre. “They seek a better life which for the most part is in vain.”

The colloquium in Mexico City was organised by the Mexican Government and the Holy See and attended by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The bishops of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the US have called on the US Government to follow the Pope in declaring a humanitarian crisis. They said this would allow the creation of “policies to provide basic services and protection” and “assign federal resources to the countries of origin to prevent the need for migration”.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress for US$3.7bn (£2.16bn) to cope with the surge in the number of unaccompanied children coming to the border, but members of Congress are pushing for a tougher stance in exchange for any funds. Republicans, and some Democrats, want a 2008 immigration law designed to help  victims of human trafficking repealed. Signed by President George W. Bush, the law granted refugee status to children coming from Central America.