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In some cases, parents or other relatives who have taken in undocumented children may face criminal smuggling-related charges and the prospect of prison; in other cases, they will be placed in deportation proceedings along with the children. The administration said the arrests would deter families from putting children in the hands of smugglers for dangerous journeys through regions controlled by drug cartels.

Though the American authorities have long sought to arrest human smugglers, sometimes known as coyotes, they had not paid much attention to the relatives paying the smuggling fees, until now. Parents and others who have placed children directly into harms way by entrusting them to violent criminal organizations will be held accountable, Ms. Elzea said.

The effort drew immediate criticism from immigrant advocates because it would separate families, including many that had fled violence or poverty.

It would also discourage parents from claiming custody of their children when they arrived in the United States, the advocates said. That could lead to more children being sent to juvenile immigrant detention centers, where those with no identifiable family in the United States are often held.

Its punishing parents for trying to save their childrens lives, said Michelle Bran, the director of the migrant rights and justice program at the Womens Refugee Commission. And its endangering the children in the process.

Sarah Rodriguez, an ICE spokeswoman, said the agency would try to find other relatives to place children with before sending them to the detention centers.

The operation is the latest phase of Mr. Trumps ramped-up immigration enforcement. Shortly after he was inaugurated, he rescinded guidelines put in place by President Barack Obama that sought to limit arrests to those with serious criminal convictions. Apprehensions soared 38 percent during the first three months of his presidency compared with the same period last year.

The administration did not say how many parents had been arrested, and immigration advocates said that based on reports from lawyers, they did not think many had been.

But the effort could put hundreds, if not thousands, in jeopardy of arrest.

Unaccompanied children began to flood the southern United States border three years ago, when 68,541 were detained after fleeing violence and poverty in Central America. Since Mr. Trump took office, border crossings have plummeted to their lowest numbers in decades, possibly a result of his threats to arrest and deport greater numbers of undocumented immigrants.

Even so, from February through May, 5,445 children were detained after crossing the border unaccompanied by adult relatives, according to Customs and Border Protection, and a majority of those have wound up reunited with parents or other relatives.

A Salvadoran immigrant who gave only his first name, Jose, because he feared prosecution said in an interview Friday that he and his wife had come to the United States more than a decade ago, and that, as many young couples from their village did, they had left their toddler son, Henry, behind with relatives.

When Henry turned 13, gang members began to court him and threaten him for not joining them. In 2014, Jose wired money to a friend in El Salvador who said he knew of a coyote who could take Henry to the United States. Its impossible to do without help, Jose said. My son didnt know the way, and it was dangerous.

Jose said that he himself had feared being apprehended when he went to pick up Henry from a government facility after he was detained. But Jose was not at least not then.

I was worried, but my bigger worry was that my son would not be safe in El Salvador, he said. To stay there would have been fatal.

Children often arrive in the United States with addresses and phone numbers of parents or other relatives written on paper. Before now, those relatives would usually not be arrested, even if they were undocumented, unless they had committed a crime.

But the Trump administration considers that practice as winking at the relatives illegal status.

The operation to arrest sponsors of unaccompanied minors is being coordinated by Homeland Security Investigations, a division of ICE that investigates fraud and other crimes. It was unclear how often parents would be criminally prosecuted as opposed to being placed in deportation proceedings. Prosecutions could send a tougher message but also require more time and effort.

Immigrant advocates questioned whether parents seeking to be reunited with their children could be convicted of a crime, and instead viewed the effort as an attempt to draw headlines.

This seems to me to be a fear-mongering propaganda move that is poorly thought out and not in the best interests of the children, said Lenni Benson, who directs the New York Law Schools Safe Passage Project, which provides legal representation to unaccompanied minors.

Mr. Kelly, a retired Marine general who oversaw American military operations in Central and South America from 2012 to 2016 as head of the United States Southern Command, has a longstanding interest in combating human smuggling. In April, he reiterated his vow to pursue the smugglers, many of whom extort their clients by demanding exorbitant sums, or resort to kidnapping or violence.

There is nothing the attorney general and I want more than to put human smugglers out of business, Mr. Kelly said in a speech at the San Ysidro border crossing in California. And we will do everything in our power and within the law to end the flow of illegal migration.

His department pointed to several instances in which smugglers had endangered childrens lives in car crashes and overheated truck holds where the migrants were hidden during their journeys. One investigation found that a 12-year-old Ecuadorean girl had committed suicide after smugglers sexually assaulted her.

Cristiane Rosales-Fajardo, a community organizer in New Orleans who works with Hondurans there, said she knew of many parents who had paid $2,500 to $4,000 to coyotes to smuggle a child into the United States. Some hadnt seen them since they were newborns, she said.

Because of the violence in Honduras, Ms. Rosales-Fajardo said, the parents believed that entrusting their children with smugglers was a better option. The parents wanted to make sure their children were safe, she said.

Follow Caitlin Dickerson on Twitter @itscaitlinhd.

Miriam Jordan and Liz Robbins contributed reporting.

A version of this article appears in print on July 2, 2017, on Page A19 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Administration Targets Parents in New Immigration Crackdown.

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Trump Administration Targets Parents in New Immigration Crackdown - New York Times

Kansas City Star

Letters: Readers discuss Trump's conduct, illegal immigration and strangers' help on an airplane Kansas City Star It has been my pleasure to contribute more than 50 years of combined service on several commercial boards of directors, including public and private for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, and as a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Were President ...

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U.S. Immigration and the Environment Exploding U.S. population levels were a primary concern among enivronmentalists at the birth of the movement in the 1970s, but those roots have all but withered. Unfortunately, the national environmental movement will no longer talk about U.S. population, let alone immigrations role. Many staff and volunteers for environmental organizations know little of the history and are reluctant to acknowledge the impact of immigration on the nations carrying capacity.

The Elephant in the Classroom: Mass Immigration's Impact on Public Education Public school districts across the United States are suffering under a massive unfunded mandate imposed by the federal government: the requirement to educate millions of illegal aliens, the school age children of illegal aliens, refugees and legal immigrant students. The struggle to fund programs for students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), sometimes called English Language Learners (ELL), represents a major drain on school budgets. Yet due to political correctness, it is taboo to raise the issue even though scarce resources are redirected away from American citizens to support programs like English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and English as a Second Language (ESL).

The Role of State and Local Governments in Immigration Enforcement As the American dream becomes increasingly elusive for U.S. citizens, state and local lawmakers have a decision to make. They can stand back and watch as America's immigration system is systematically undermined by non-enforcement policies and special interests, or they can stand up and look for solutions to help maintain the rule of law and institute policies that guarantee fairness and opportunity for all Americans.

Cost in Translation: English Language Education in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area The high cost of educating K-12 public school students who are not proficient in English is well documented. So too, is the fact that most Limited English Proficient (LEP) students are children of illegal alien parents. The illegal alien population in the D.C. metro area has grown steadily along with the overall foreign-born population. So, too, has the number of students in area public schools that are not proficient in English. The money spent on LEP education in the D.C. area is substantial.

Estimated Cost of K-12 Public Education for Unaccompanied Alien Children September is coming and so is the start of a new school year. This year, there will be almost 37,000 "unaccompanied" alien minors who will be enrolling in public school in the United States. These kids will require special Limited English Proficient (LEP) classes conducted in Spanish, or in other languages indigenous to Central America, as well as other taxpayer funded services, such as free and reduced school meals. Once again the costs of federal governments failed immigration policies are borne at the local level, and the nation's public school system is where the costs are most visible.

Out of the Shadows (2013) Unrestrained immigration is not the sole cause of America's economic and fiscal misfortunes, but it is a major contributing factor. The current U.S. immigration system does not take into account the broad national interest. Instead it favors narrow special interests that have direct political and financial ties to policymakers. The President and members of Congress have abandoned their moral obligation to protect American workers and their custodial responsibility to enact legislation mindful of its effects on future generations.

Illegal Immigration and Agribusiness (2013) Over the past several decades, the agribusiness industry has grown increasingly dependent on a steady supply of workers who have entered the country illegally. It has consistently opposed an immigration policy that would result in a legal workforce. Their position is that current hiring practices are crucial for the survival of the industry. In this study, we explore the impact on profits of commercial farms if the increased labor costs are absorbed by the producers and the consequent effect on overall farm business.

Immigration: Fueling U.S. Income Inequality (2013) Immigration especially illegal immigration has fueled the nation's rapidly increasing income inequality. Legal immigration adds both high-wage earners and low-wage earners and contributes to a shrinking middle class. Illegal immigration adds low-wage workers and thereby dampens job opportunities and wages for competing U.S. workers. The educational and English language deficits of illegal aliens relegate them to low-wage work regardless of legal status. A study of 1986 amnesty beneficiaries showed that five years after receiving legal status most had not risen above their previous low-wage work and a majority had lost ground compared to other workers. These findings are directly applicable to the debate over another amnesty.

HB56: Helping to Move Alabamas Economy Forward (2012) Alabama's comprehensive immigration enforcement law, HB56, was passed to provide economic opportunities for the legal residents of the state, and it is already doing just that, helping to put Alabamians back to work. HB56 is providing opportunities to less-educated Alabamians so that they can enter the job market, acquiring necessary job skills while supporting their families. It will also create conditions that will lead to a more educated, skilled, and stable workforce that will entice employers to set up operation in the state and hire locally.

Census 2010: Who Represents Illegal Aliens? Most Americans do not realize that illegal immigrants are also represented by members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Amnesty and the American Worker Unemployment is at its highest level in 27 years. Since the current recession began in 2007, the U.S. economy has lost over 8.4 million jobs, the largest drop since the Great Depression. According to February 2010 Census Bureau figures, 13.2 million native-born workers were unemployed -- not including those Americans who have been forced to work part-time, taken temporary work, or who have given up looking for work altogether. At the same time, there are an estimated 7.5 million illegal aliens in the U.S. workforce.

Paving the Road to Amnesty As President Obama closes the books on his first year in office, his record, as opposed to his rhetoric, now defines his political agenda. During 2009, President Obama's record on immigration policy points to certain inescapable conclusions. The overriding objectives of this administration are to enact a massive amnesty for current illegal aliens and vastly expand future flows of immigration to the United States.

Amnesty and Joblessness With the recent official unemployment rate of 10.2 percent, American workers are now facing the worst job market in 25 years. In fact, over the past 60 years, the unemployment rate has rarely been as high as it is today. Despite a difficult job market, President Obama and leaders in Congress are talking about passing so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" legislation. This legislation would give amnesty to 12 million or more illegal aliens, including an estimated 8.3 million illegal aliens who hold jobs they never should have had, and could include a proposed new guest-worker provision to import hundreds of thousands of additional foreign workers.

Illegal Aliens and Crime Incidence (2007) Illegal aliens are more than half again as likely to be incarcerated for crimes as the rest of the population. This fact underscores the urgent need for Congress and the Bush Administration to regain control of our borders and enforce laws against illegal immigration, and it demonstrates why local communities are actively trying to discourage illegal alien settlement.

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By Sen. John BoozmanGuest column

President Trump called on the Department of Homeland Security to redouble its efforts to enforce immigration laws. It comes as no surprise that this has resulted in increased arrests of individuals in the country illegally and historically low levels of illegal border crossings. On our southwest border, there has been a 64 percent decrease since May 2016. Having consequences for breaking our laws is a deterrent.

This is a welcome change from the policies of the previous administration that allowed federal immigration laws to be ignored and limited the crimes for which a non-citizen could be held accountable. Undermining our immigration laws is a threat to the safety of American families and communities. Unfortunately, its become too common with "sanctuary cities" purposefully protecting illegal immigrants, including those who are violent and dangerous criminals. Congress is rightfully taking action to force compliance with the laws.

The Senates Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act would restrict federal funding from sanctuary communities that fail to comply with the law in an effort to encourage them to eliminate these dangerous policies and allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration officials.

Kates Law is legislation named for Kate Steinle, a young woman who was murdered in San Francisco by an illegal immigrant who was supposed to be behind bars. The bill would establish a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for illegal immigrants who are found guilty of re-entering the U.S. after being convicted of an aggravated felony or being convicted of having illegally re-entered the U.S. twice before.

Im a proud co-sponsor of these bills and was pleased to see that the House of Representatives recently approved them. I encourage my Senate colleagues to follow suit.

As chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Im working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure it has the funding and manpower it needs to enforce our laws, decrease border crossings and protect our Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers.

These agents undergo rigorous training to protect our borders. Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to experience some simulated real-life scenarios these agents face at a training facility in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. It is one of six Advanced Training Centers in the country that prepares agents for situations they could encounter on the job.

As we look for ways to improve border security with technology, barriers and infrastructure, its important that we provide CBP and ICE with the tools and resources they need to safeguard themselves and our country.

We are a nation of laws and its right that we hold those who break our laws accountable. I look forward to working with the president to enhance border security, ensure proper vetting for immigrants coming into our country and reforming our nations immigration policy.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., has represented Arkansas in the U.S. Senate since 2011. To participate in the Times Records Community Matters series, email Executive Editor Mardi Taylor, mtaylor@swtimes.com.

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Community Matters: Efforts help deter illegal immigration - Times Record

Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly speaks about immigration reform at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by REUTERS/Joshua Roberts.

WASHINGTON Warning of threats to public safety and national security, the Republican-led House on Thursday approved two bills to crack down on illegal immigration, a key priority for President Donald Trump.

One bill would strip federal dollars from self-proclaimed sanctuary cities that shield residents from federal immigration authorities, while a separate measure would stiffen punishments for people who re-enter the U.S. illegally.

The sanctuary measure was approved 228-195, while the bill to punish deportees was approved 257-167.

Trump often railed against illegal immigration during his presidential campaign, and his support for tougher immigration policies is crucial to his voting base. Trump met at the White House on Wednesday with more than a dozen people whose family members were killed by people in the country illegally, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions met with the families Thursday.

WATCH: Jeff Sessions speaks at DOJ hate crimes summit

One of the bills, known as Kates Law, would impose harsher prison sentences on deportees who re-enter the United States. The bill is named after 32-year old Kathryn Steinle, who was shot and killed in San Francisco in 2015 by a man who was in the country illegally. Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who pleaded not guilty to the crime, had been released by sheriffs officials months earlier despite a request by immigration officials to keep him behind bars.

The second bill would bar states and localities that refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities from receiving certain Justice Department and Homeland Security grants, including some related to law enforcement and terrorism.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the two bills would help avoid the kind of tragic circumstances that have totally involved the lives of the people who were at the White House speaking up for their loved ones.

The sanctuary measure follows a simple principle that if youre going to receive taxpayer dollars from the federal government to keep people safe, that youve got to follow the law and keep them safe, Goodlatte said.

Democrats said the bills were feel-good measures intended to make lawmakers look tough on crime.

READ MORE: Trump administration keeps DACA program, shields young immigrants from deportation

Were not doing bumper stickers here. We are doing laws, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif, said.

She and other Democrats said the sanctuary measure was about telling people how to police their cities and telling local officials that we in Washington, D.C., know better than you do.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said he appreciates Congress effort to address the dangers of sanctuary cities and illegal immigrant offenders.

At a news conference at the Capitol with House Speaker Paul Ryan, Kelly said his agency will enforce the laws that are passed by Congress, adding, I am offended when members of this institution put pressure and often threaten me and my officers to ignore the laws they make.

A spokesman said later that Kelly will continue to push back against any attempt pressure, threat or otherwise to ignore the enforcement of immigration law.

Enforcement is not selective, occasional or arbitrary, its the law, spokesman David Lapan said.

READ MORE: President Trump urges passage of House immigration bills

The Justice Departments inspector general has identified California and major cities such as Chicago, New York and Philadelphia as locales with barriers to information-sharing among local police and immigration officials. The Trump administration warned nine jurisdictions in late April that they could lose coveted law enforcement grant money unless they document cooperation.

Sessions said Steinle would still be alive today if only the city of San Francisco had put the publics safety first. How many more Americans must die before we put an end to this madness?

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said Kates Law would not have had an impact on the Steinle case, noting that Steinle was killed in July 2015 by an immigrant who had been mistakenly released by the federal Bureau of Prisons.

The proposed bill would not have kept Kate Steinles killer off the streets, Gutierrez said. Instead, we are voting on a bill to put other people in different circumstances in jail for longer periods of time. It is a bait-and-switch strategy: Use a horrible tragedy to sell a policy that would not have prevented that death, so that you put more immigrants in jail for longer periods of time.

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House Republicans back bills to crack down on illegal immigration - PBS NewsHour