Obama asks Central American leaders for help

President Barack Obama is telling Central American presidents that the United States and the wider region share responsibility to address an influx of minors and families who are crossing the southwest border of the U.S.

He says they all have to deter the flow of children across the border because the situation is putting the children and their families at risk.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met at the White House with the presidents of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Obama said children without a proper claim to stay will be returned to their countries.

He said the U.S. will turn back border crossers not because of a lack of compassion but because the U.S. is a nation of laws.