Re: “Maine Sens. King, Collins, tour Texas border, differ over where blame lies” (Aug. 2):

Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins went to the border over the issue of children migrating to the U.S. If the U.S. doesn’t want more immigrants, it needs to look at the source, not at the border.

The issues are in the countries: poverty and unemployment, violence by gangs and drug cartels and even government security forces.

Honduras, where a coup displaced stable government, has the highest murder rate in the world. Since the June 2009 coup (condemned by all nations except the U.S.), Honduras has experienced brutal, corrupt and incompetent governance, an ongoing series of assassinations, out-of-control drug activity and a rapidly declining economy.

The White House did not cut off funds to Honduras, despite ongoing corruption and increasing killings by government forces.

“Yes, gangs are rampant in Honduras. But the truly dangerous gang is the Honduran government. And our own tax dollars are pouring into it while our top officials praise its virtues,” Dana Frank, a history professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, wrote on The Huffington Post.

In May, according to Frank, the Honduran government eliminated the country’s agency for children’s interests and liquidated its assets. During this same month, 104 young people were killed. From 2010 to 2013, 458 children age 14 or younger were assassinated.

Of course desperate families attempt to send their children out of the country.

We expect border action to change the situation? We expect their president to help in some way? We would offer that government more money? No, please.

Grace Braley

Portland

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