Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins says the influx of children from Central America is a humanitarian crisis
10TH AMENDMENT GUY | Because Gov. Rick Perry dislikes interference from Washington, he said he wouldn’t interfere if “liberals” from Dallas like Mayor Mike Rawlings, left, and County Judge Clay Jenkins want to take in 2,000 Central American children. (AP photo)
“We have children who need our help now,” County Judge Clay Jenkins told Stonewall Democrats of Dallas this week, speaking at the group’s monthly meeting about the throngs of children coming into the U.S. from Central America.
About 52,000 children have crossed the border into the U.S. in the last eight months. That number is expected to increase to about 60,000 by the end of the fiscal year in September. Last year, the number was under 25,000.
Rising violence, mostly among drug gangs who are kidnapping these children and threatening to kill entire families, encourages parents to send their children out of their native Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvadore.
Jenkins called the children coming across the border “refugees by any definition of the word.” But, he added, they are refugees that belong to a class the United Nations doesn’t recognize — children.
“If they were Kurds, or any other group, they’d be given asylum,” he said.
Jenkins said the most stunning fact is that Nicaragua is poorer than Honduras, Guatemala or El Salvador and yet has received more than 700 asylum requests from children.
He said it is unprecedented that refugees would flood into Nicaragua from its more wealthy neighbors.
“This is not about comprehensive immigration reform,” Jenkins said. “It’s about giving relief to children.”
A few weeks ago, Jenkins said, he wouldn’t have expected to be the face of humanitarian relief to children. But since his meeting with President Barack Obama in Dallas on July 9, that’s exactly what’s happened.
Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance President Patti Fink said she was in San Francisco last week, and “At least 20 times, people who heard I was from Dallas said, ‘That’s where that wonderful man is from,’” Fink said of people’s response to the Dallas County judge’s actions.
Jenkins stressed to the LGBT Democratic group that the situation is a humanitarian crisis. Gangs are forcing children as young as 5 to work in the drug trade for them and threatening to kill entire families that try protect the children. Parents feel they have no option other than to send their children out of the country, Jenkins said.
Jenkins said that many times, when refugee children are flown back to the Honduras, they are never reunited with their families. Instead, they are “auctioned off at the airport” to work as slaves for drug gangs. But, he added, he has received assurances from the White House that children being returned now to their native countries would be protected from such a fate.
At the meeting with President Obama last week, Jenkins said they had one hour to discuss what was needed, but Texas Gov. Rick Perry was mostly interested instead in discussing the history of the problem. Jenkins said it didn’t matter if the crisis was the fault of Obama, Congress or the drug gangs — these children need help.
A picture that made the rounds on social media showed Obama, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia and Jenkins laughing while Perry scowls. Jenkins explained.
“Perry said something off-putting,” he said. “Rawlings made some joke to turn things away.”
Jenkins met with Rawlings before the meeting to discuss what had to happen at the meeting with the governor and president. Whatever plans Dallas County had to temporarily shelter children, they knew the state could block it with new regulations.
When they addressed moving forward, Perry told the group, “I’m a 10th Amendment kind of guy.”
The 10th Amendment gives powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution to the states.
Jenkins said Perry told them that he doesn’t like when Washington interferes in Texas, so “You liberals want to take 2,000 children, who am I to stand in the way?”
When members of Stonewall asked what they could do to help, Jenkins didn’t offer “backpack drives” as an option. He said he wants substantive help from the community:
“We need 15,000 foster families.”
Jenkins said to ask friends and relatives across the country and briefly explained the process. Becoming a foster parent requires training and a home study. A number of local agencies provide the training, including Jonathan’s Place and Hope Cottage in Dallas, both of whom welcome LGBT singles and couples. More information is available from the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Next, Jenkins said, he needs attorneys to do pro bono work for the 2,000 children that will be housed in Dallas.
“That number could grow,” he said, and as some children are processed and leave the facility, others will come to Dallas.
He said rather than donating items, donate money to one of the large agencies like the Red Cross or Catholic Charities involved in providing relief.
While other cities and counties across the country are beginning to contact Jenkins to see if they can also provide some relief, Dallas County’s program is the only one currently funded. He said he spoke to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee from Houston who indicated Harris County would also like to step up. Representatives from Salt Lake County in Utah and from San Diego have also expressed interest.
But for now, Dallas has taken the lead in providing relief to children who have fled violence and death threats in Central America. Jenkins is asking people in Dallas who would like to help to tell friends and relatives across the country how they can help us provide that humanitarian relief.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition July 18, 2014.