Norcross calls for immigration deal in wake of visit to displaced minors

As a judge’s deadline passes for reuniting immigrant children separated from their parents at the Mexican border, a South Jersey congressman is calling for compromise and immigration peace in the U.S.

After visiting a South Jersey facility holding children who crossed the border and then were separated from their parents, U.S. Rep. Don Norcross said he believes an immigration compromise must be worked out quickly.

“First and foremost, we can’t be using the kids,” said the Democrat. “We continue — in my position as a member of Congress — to get together on that policy. Literally, it is a daily occurrence of trying to bring that common ground together so we can move forward as a nation.”

“The issue, quite frankly, is the policy that somehow you are going to use children as weapons in a policy debate on immigration,” he said Tuesday. “It’s completely unacceptable, and, quite frankly, it’s un-American.”

Workers at the facility run by the Center for Family Services are doing a good job in caring for the migrant children, he said.

“The good news is the facility was extremely well run, something we Americans can be proud of,” he said.  The group headquartered in Camden has not disclosed the facility’s location, nor will Norcross.

He  said he was upset that his visit was delayed by two weeks because federal officials said they had to “supervise” his visit. Then, when the time came, they never showed up, he said.