What You Need to Know About the Border Crisis

What's at stake for the children and American lawmakers.

Immigration and Election Year Politics - "The truth of the matter is that the politics did shift midsummer because of [the migrant children] problem. I want to spend some time, even as we're getting all our ducks in a row for the executive action, I also want to make sure that the public understands why we're doing this, why it's the right thing for the American people, why it's the right thing for the American economy," said the president. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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The Situation - A recent surge of unaccompanied child migrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexican border has presented the nation with humanitarian, legal and economic dilemmas for which there are no easy answers. Keep reading to learn more about the border crisis and what's at stake for the children and American lawmakers, especially President Obama. — Joyce Jones and Patrice Peck(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

What's the Big Deal? - Between October 2013 and mid-June, more than 52,000 children, primarily from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, have taken perilous routes to illegally enter the United States. That's more than twice the rate in fiscal year 2013 and ten times as many as in FY2011. In addition, 39,000 adults traveling with children have illegally entered the U.S. in the past several months.(Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

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What's the Big Deal? - Between October 2013 and mid-June, more than 52,000 children, primarily from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, have taken perilous routes to illegally enter the United States. That's more than twice the rate in fiscal year 2013 and ten times as many as in FY2011. In addition, 39,000 adults traveling with children have illegally entered the U.S. in the past several months.(Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

Why the Surge? - According to immigrant advocacy groups, many of the children and families are fleeing gang violence, criminal activity and poverty. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says some are victims of smugglers who've misrepresented the likelihood that the children will be permitted to stay in the U.S.(Photo: Eric Gay-Pool/Getty Images)

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Why the Surge? - According to immigrant advocacy groups, many of the children and families are fleeing gang violence, criminal activity and poverty. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says some are victims of smugglers who've misrepresented the likelihood that the children will be permitted to stay in the U.S.(Photo: Eric Gay-Pool/Getty Images)

Who's to Blame? - The answer depends on who's being asked. Tex. Gov. Rick Perry says he warned the administration of a growing problem more than two years ago. Republican lawmakers have accused the Obama administration of not adequately securing the borders, while Democrats and some experts blame the GOP-led House's unwillingness to consider immigration reform legislation.       (Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

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Who's to Blame? - The answer depends on who's being asked. Tex. Gov. Rick Perry says he warned the administration of a growing problem more than two years ago. Republican lawmakers have accused the Obama administration of not adequately securing the borders, while Democrats and some experts blame the GOP-led House's unwillingness to consider immigration reform legislation.       (Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

What Happens Once the Immigrants Cross the Border? - Migrant children and families are put in detention to await immigration court hearings. A bipartisan bill signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008 mandates that children be given an immigration hearing and access to counsel. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for their care and processing. They may be returned to their families or could be placed temporarily in foster care or with relatives already living in the U.S. while awaiting their court date. Lawmakers are considering changing the law.(Photo: Ross D. Franklin-Pool/Getty Images)

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What Happens Once the Immigrants Cross the Border? - Migrant children and families are put in detention to await immigration court hearings. A bipartisan bill signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008 mandates that children be given an immigration hearing and access to counsel. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for their care and processing. They may be returned to their families or could be placed temporarily in foster care or with relatives already living in the U.S. while awaiting their court date. Lawmakers are considering changing the law.(Photo: Ross D. Franklin-Pool/Getty Images)

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Who Faces Deportation? - "While we intend to do the right thing by these children, their parents need to know that this is an incredibly dangerous situation and it is unlikely that their children will be able to stay," said Obama after a July 9 meeting with Gov. Perry and local leaders. "And I've asked parents across Central America not to put their children in harm's way in this fashion." (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)

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Who Faces Deportation? - "While we intend to do the right thing by these children, their parents need to know that this is an incredibly dangerous situation and it is unlikely that their children will be able to stay," said Obama after a July 9 meeting with Gov. Perry and local leaders. "And I've asked parents across Central America not to put their children in harm's way in this fashion." (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)

Clogged Courts - Because of a backlog of cases and too few judges, many migrant children are able to stay in the U.S. for years before being deported or granted asylum. The Wall Street Journal reports that in FY2013, immigration judges deported 3,535 children and allowed another 888 to return home voluntarily, but those numbers are nothing compared to the tens of thousands of juveniles apprehended by the border patrol each year.(Photo: Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

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Clogged Courts - Because of a backlog of cases and too few judges, many migrant children are able to stay in the U.S. for years before being deported or granted asylum. The Wall Street Journal reports that in FY2013, immigration judges deported 3,535 children and allowed another 888 to return home voluntarily, but those numbers are nothing compared to the tens of thousands of juveniles apprehended by the border patrol each year.(Photo: Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

Communities Weigh In - Some communities have reacted angrily to undocumented immigrants being housed in local facilities. USA Today reports that on July 1, protestors in Murrieta, California, blocked three DHS busloads of immigrants arriving from Texas, while some pro-immigrant activists held a vigil for them. Reactions in Texas border towns also has been mixed. In addition, some people are concerned about the impact on already strained economic resources and whether the undocumented immigrants present a health threat. (Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)

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Communities Weigh In - Some communities have reacted angrily to undocumented immigrants being housed in local facilities. USA Today reports that on July 1, protestors in Murrieta, California, blocked three DHS busloads of immigrants arriving from Texas, while some pro-immigrant activists held a vigil for them. Reactions in Texas border towns also has been mixed. In addition, some people are concerned about the impact on already strained economic resources and whether the undocumented immigrants present a health threat. (Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)

The Big Ask - The White House has requested $3.7 billion in emergency funds to address the immigration crisis: $1.6 billion to strengthen customs and border security and efforts to crack down on smugglers; $300 million to help Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to counter claims smugglers make to parents of a permiso guaranteeing children will be able to stay in the U.S. and to educate parents about the dangers the children face only to be most likely sent home; and $1.8 billion for the care of unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody, including room and board, mental and physical health exams and educational resources. (Photo: Jacqueline Martin/AP Photo)

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The Big Ask - The White House has requested $3.7 billion in emergency funds to address the immigration crisis: $1.6 billion to strengthen customs and border security and efforts to crack down on smugglers; $300 million to help Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to counter claims smugglers make to parents of a permiso guaranteeing children will be able to stay in the U.S. and to educate parents about the dangers the children face only to be most likely sent home; and $1.8 billion for the care of unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody, including room and board, mental and physical health exams and educational resources. (Photo: Jacqueline Martin/AP Photo)

Congressional Reluctance - Republican lawmakers have balked at the $3.7 billion request. They believe that Obama caused the crisis and cannot be trusted to resolve it. "We're not giving the president a blank check," House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said, "We want to make sure we actually get the right tools to fix the problem. And that's not what we've seen so far from the president." (Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

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Congressional Reluctance - Republican lawmakers have balked at the $3.7 billion request. They believe that Obama caused the crisis and cannot be trusted to resolve it. "We're not giving the president a blank check," House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said, "We want to make sure we actually get the right tools to fix the problem. And that's not what we've seen so far from the president." (Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

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What Happens If Congress Says No? - Without those funds, says Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol agencies will run out of money by the end of the summer. DHS would then have to "divert significant funds from other critical programs just to maintain operations," Johnson said at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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What Happens If Congress Says No? - Without those funds, says Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol agencies will run out of money by the end of the summer. DHS would then have to "divert significant funds from other critical programs just to maintain operations," Johnson said at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Let's Make a Deal - Despite initial concerns, GOP lawmakers seem more willing to consider the request, but with conditions. They include speedier deportations and a change to the 2008 law that requires court hearings for migrant children who cross the border into the U.S. so that children from Central America are treated like kids from Mexico and Canada and returned home quickly unless they can prove they are qualified for asylum. "Let them have their face-saver," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. "But let us have the resources to do what we have to do."(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Let's Make a Deal - Despite initial concerns, GOP lawmakers seem more willing to consider the request, but with conditions. They include speedier deportations and a change to the 2008 law that requires court hearings for migrant children who cross the border into the U.S. so that children from Central America are treated like kids from Mexico and Canada and returned home quickly unless they can prove they are qualified for asylum. "Let them have their face-saver," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. "But let us have the resources to do what we have to do."(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Something to Shout About - Voters are so angry that 54 percent said they would carry a protest sign for a day. "Republicans and Congress, do your job," a male Democrat from Kentucky said his sign would read. "Stop bombing people in Ukraine and Gaza and Israel," a male Democrat from Texas said.

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Immigrant Advocacy Groups React - Pro-immigrant groups are angered by suggestions that the migrant children will be sent back home. In addition, they adamantly oppose changes to the 2008 law that would deport undocumented immigrants more swiftly. They also believe that more money should be directed to investigating requests for asylum and immigration hearings than to border security.(Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee - My continued sympathy goes to Michael Brown’s family for their loss and for the people of Ferguson, Missouri. No family should experience this loss and my plea is to ask for peaceful and nonviolent protest. We know that the voices of the people must be heard but we should adhere to the message of nonviolence and change through the legal process. Many questions of fact remain unanswered in the killing of Michael Brown. Therefore I intend to continue to press the Department of Justice to continue their vigorous review of this case. The DOJ has launched a federal probe into possible civil rights violations that may have been committed.  I am hoping through this investigation there will be a full public airing of these matters. We appreciate Attorney General Holder for announcing this investigation with the speed necessary. (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Gett...

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Send in the Guards - Gov. Perry is calling on the president to deploy the National Guard to secure Texas's borders and to send the undocumented children home. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee disagrees. "A massive deportation policy for children – and the mass detention of children – is not a humane thing to do," she says.  (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

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The Political Toll - Republican House leaders have resisted bringing an immigration reform bill for a vote or even debate for fear of angering their conservative base. But even they are beginning to recognize that inaction on an issue of which children are now the primary face could come at a high political cost. Latinos make up the nation's largest minority group and are becoming an increasingly more powerful voting bloc. While Obama on July 10 accused Republicans of not doing their jobs, a visibly frustrated Boehner cried, "He's been president for five-and-a-half years. When's he going to take responsibility for something?" (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)