Washington D.C., Jan 9, 2019 / 16:10 pm
On Tuesday evening, US President Donald Trump highlighted humanitarian problems present along the US-Mexico border and issued a call for increased security, including the construction of additional barriers on the border. His remarks were met with mixed reactions and frustration from Catholics across the United States.
Among the points raised by Trump in his Jan. 8 address is that approximately 90 percent of the heroin supply in the United States enters the country through the border with Mexico. "More Americans will die from drugs this year than were killed in the entire Vietnam War," said Trump.
Trump also highlighted the dangers of the journey from Central America to the United States, saying he feared children were being used as "pawns" by "vicious coyotes and ruthless gangs."
Isaac Cuevas, the director of immigration and public affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, told CNA that while he agrees with Trump's assessment that there is a humanitarian crisis at the border, he did not believe either Trump's address, or the response by Democratic leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), were signs that progress will be made.