California Leaders Head To Central America Over Immigration Crisis Involving Kids
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) -- State Sen. President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and other lawmakers head to Central America as the immigration crisis involving tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors continues.
More than 57,000 children have arrived in the United States since October.
Steinberg left from Sacramento International Airport on Monday morning. He is expected to meet with the President Salvador Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador, along with leaders from Guatemala and Panama.
"We intend to go down as fact-finders. We're not representing the federal government, certainly not negotiating," Steinberg said.
Steinberg will discuss trade and immigration, including the humanitarian crisis at the U.S. border. He will also explore political, economic, and social environments on the ground.
And he will look at what California can do to meet the challenges presented by then tens of thousands of unaccompanied children arriving in the United States.
"Of course we can make a difference. I mean, we can't do it alone. We're a state, we're not the nation. And there is no substitute for comprehensive federal immigration reform. But of course we can make a difference."
"We want to come back here and make some recommendations on what our state can be doing to help the people."
Members of the Legislative Latino Caucus are joining Steinberg on the trip, which wraps up on July 23rd.