The Republican-led House's border spending bill has drawn opposition from a coalition of 37 Latino groups, liberal and conservative.
The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) said Wednesday the $659 million House bill is the "wrong response to the humanitarian situation" created by the border crossings of more than 57,500 unaccompanied children and more than 55,000 families, the majority from Central America.
The $659 million House bill would change a 2008 law that provides the children more chance to plea for asylum or U.S. visas than Mexican and Canadian children. It also provides $35 million to pay for National Guard on the border; the coalition dubbed the proposal as a waste of taxpayer dollars.
"Putting more armed agents and soldiers along the border to confront children is an exaggerated and political response," the coalition said in a statement.
IN-DEPTH
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– Suzanne Gamboa