Photos: Child migrants crisis

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Thousands of children from Central America are crossing the border to the United States illegally, sent by their families in hopes of seeking a new life, free of crime and poverty. The debate has been raging what to do with the children, and eventually the families who are in the country illegally. Should the U.S. send them back or give them asylum?

Immigrant families and children's advocates rally in response to President Barack Obama's statement on the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the United States, outside the Los Angeles Federal building Monday, July 7, 2014. A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can illegally enter the United States without eventually facing deportation proceedings. (AP Photo/ Nick Ut)

Alexandria Diaz, 9, from Baltimore, Md., joins her parents during a march in front of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 7, 2014, following a news conference of immigrant families and children's advocates responding to the President Barack Obama's response to the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the US. A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can illegally enter the United States without eventually facing deportation proceedings. But Homeland Security Sec Jeh Johnson basically acknowledged Sunday that such proceedings might be long delayed, and he said that coping with floods of unaccompanied minors crossing the border is a legal and humanitarian dilemma for the US. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

A demonstrator holds up a signs outside the White House in Washington, Monday, July 7, 2014, following a news conference of immigrant families and children's advocates responding to the President Barack Obama's response to the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the US. A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can illegally enter the United States without eventually facing deportation proceedings. But Homeland Security Sec Jeh Johnson basically acknowledged Sunday that such proceedings might be long delayed, and he said that coping with floods of unaccompanied minors crossing the border is a legal and humanitarian dilemma for the US. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Gustavo Torres, second from left, executive director, CASA de Maryland, leads a march through Lafayette Park in Washington, Monday, July 7, 2014, toward the White House following a news conference of immigrant families and children's advocates responding to the President Barack Obama's response to the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the US. A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can illegally enter the United States without eventually facing deportation proceedings. But Homeland Security Sec Jeh Johnson basically acknowledged Sunday that such proceedings might be long delayed, and he said that coping with floods of unaccompanied minors crossing the border is a legal and humanitarian dilemma for the US. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

From left, Raul Amador Sanchez, 7, from Georgia, Alexandra Diaz, 9, and her brother Andy Diaz, 7, both from Baltimore, Md., hold up signs as they join their parent during a news conference of immigrant families and children's advocates responding to the President Barack Obama's response to the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the US, Monday, July 7, 2014, on the steps of St. John's Church in Washington. A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can illegally enter the United States without eventually facing deportation proceedings. But Homeland Security Sec Jeh Johnson basically acknowledged Sunday that such proceedings might be long delayed, and he said that coping with floods of unaccompanied minors crossing the border is a legal and humanitarian dilemma for the US. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Heather Pia Ledezma, 4, center, joins her parents and other children in front of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 7, 2014, following a news conference of immigrant families and children's advocates responding to President Barack Obama's statement on the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the United States. A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can illegally enter the United States without eventually facing deportation proceedings. But Homeland Security Sec Jeh Johnson basically acknowledged Sunday that such proceedings might be long delayed, and he said that coping with floods of unaccompanied minors crossing the border is a legal and humanitarian dilemma for the US. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Demonstrators march in front of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 7, 2014, following a news conference of immigrant families and children's advocates responding to the President Barack Obama's response to the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the US, A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can illegally enter the United States without eventually facing deportation proceedings. But Homeland Security Sec Jeh Johnson basically acknowledged Sunday that such proceedings might be long delayed, and he said that coping with floods of unaccompanied minors crossing the border is a legal and humanitarian dilemma for the US. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Sergio Garcia of San Diego and Osvaldo Delgado of El Paso, Texas, argue during a immigration demonstration outside the Border Patrol facility Friday, July 4, 2014 in Murrieta, Calif. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)

Demonstrators from opposing sides confront each other while being separated by Murrieta police officers, Friday, July 4, 2014, outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, Calif. Demonstrators on both sides of the immigration debate had gathered where the agency was foiled earlier this week in an attempt to bus in and process some of the immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

People form both sides of the issue argue across police lines during a immigration demonstration outside the Border Patrol facility Friday, July 4, 2014 in Murrieta, Calif. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)

Filly Younghorse shouts during an immigration demonstration outside the Border Patrol facility Friday, July 4, 2014 in Murrieta, Calif. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)

A protester shouts at border patrol officers during a immigration demonstration outside the Border Patrol facility Friday, July 4, 2014 in Murrieta, Calif. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)

Demonstrators yell to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, Friday, July 4, 2014, outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, Calif. Demonstrators on both sides of the immigration debate had gathered where the agency was foiled earlier this week in an attempt to bus in and process some of the immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Demonstrators confront each other while being separated by Murrieta police officers, Friday, July 4, 2014, outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, Calif. Demonstrators on both sides of the immigration debate had gathered where the agency was foiled earlier this week in an attempt to bus in and process some of the immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Demonstrators confront each other, Friday, July 4, 2014, outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, Calif. Demonstrators on both sides of the immigration debate had gathered where the agency was foiled earlier this week in an attempt to bus in and process some of the immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Demonstrators shove each other, Friday, July 4, 2014, outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, Calif. Demonstrators on both sides of the immigration debate had gathered where the agency was foiled earlier this week in an attempt to bus in and process some of the immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Demonstrators from opposing sides confront each other, Friday, July 4, 2014, outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, Calif. Demonstrators on both sides of the immigration debate had gathered where the agency was foiled earlier this week in an attempt to bus in and process some of the immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A demonstrator that opposes illegal immigration, left, shouts at immigration supporters, Friday, July 4, 2014, outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, Calif. Demonstrators on both sides of the immigration debate had gathered where the agency was foiled earlier this week in an attempt to bus in and process some of the immigrants who have flooded the Texas border with Mexico. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

In this June 25, 2014 photo, a group of immigrants from Honduras and El Salvador who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally are stopped in Granjeno, Texas. Just since October, the Border Patrol�s Rio Grande Valley sector has made more than 194,000 arrests, nearly triple that of any other sector. Most are from Central America, and many are children. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

In this June 20, 2014 photo, immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally depart the bus station in McAllen, Texas. The immigrants entered the country through an area referred to as zone nine. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

In this June 20, 2014 photo, donated items for immigrant families who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally are arranged at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, Texas. Just since October, the Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley sector has made more than 194,000 arrests, nearly triple that of any other sector. Most are from Central America, and many are children. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Immigrant families and children's advocates rally in response to President Barack Obama's statement on the crisis of unaccompanied children and families illegally entering the United States, outside the Los Angeles Federal building Monday, July 7, 2014. A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can illegally enter the United States without eventually facing deportation proceedings. (AP Photo/ Nick Ut)

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