Donnelly Says He Supports Bill To Speed Processing Of Illegal Immigrants

Sen. Joe Donnelly says he wants the federal government to speed up the process of returning illegal immigrants to their home countries.

Last week, Gov. Mike Pence called on President Barack Obama to provide more information to state officials, and more quickly resolve the issue of an increasing number of unaccompanied children crossing illegally into the United States.  More than 200 such children are housed with sponsors in Indiana. 

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly says he’s supportive of a bill in Congress that would speed up the processing time for illegal immigrants to as little as seven days.

“That way we have a decision made and we can send them back to their families in their home countries quicker," Donnelly said. "Because in most every single case they will not be allowed to come to the United States; they will be sent to their home countries and so the sooner we can do that and reunite them with their families, the better.”

All eight Republican members of Indiana’s Congressional delegation sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services asking for more information on the immigrant children.  The delegation’s letter says they want to ensure the children are being treated with compassion and proper care.