Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said that unaccompanied minors crossing the US border “should be sent back” during a CNN townhall on June 17, 2014.

Hillary, who on Tuesday accused Republicans of being “on a spectrum of hostility” toward immigrants, said that even though the “main reason” for the surge of unaccompanied minors was Central American violence, and it “may be safer” to let the unaccompanied minors stay, “they should be sent back as soon as it can be determined who responsible adults in their families are. Because there are concerns about whether all of them can be sent back. But I think all of them who can be should be reunited with their families.”

She added, “we have to send a clear message just because your child gets across the border that doesn’t mean that child gets to stay. So, we don’t want to send a message that is contrary to our laws, or will encourage more children to make that dangerous journey.”

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