More border children heading to Ellis County

WAXAHACHIE, Texas - More illegal immigrant children from Central America will arrive in Ellis County this week.

Over the weekend a bus full of children between the ages of 12 and 17 arrived at a church camp near Waxahachie. The Ellis County Sheriff’s Department is expecting 200 more this week.

Republican Congressman Joe Barton, who represents Ellis County, visited the camp on Monday. He has criticized the federal government for not giving the county more notice and time to prepare.

"Unfortunately, under current state and federal law, this specific action cannot be stopped," he said in a statement. "My priority remains to ensure the safety of my constituents. I will continue to work closely with federal, state, and local officials to monitor this situation for the next 21 days. I am also working to prevent a reoccurrence and to change the law."

Currently the law allows unaccompanied minors to request a hearing on their immigration status. Rarely are they allowed to stay in the country, but taxpayers still have to foot the bill for their care. And those who are allowed to live with relatives often don't show up for the hearing, Barton said.

He wants to change the law so that these hearings happen quicker and near the border.

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