immigration

US Vice President Mike Pence made an inspection visit to two immigration detention centers on the southern border of the United States. Pence's visit coincides with mounting criticism directed against the administration of US President Donald Trump due to reports that immigrants are being treated poorly in detention centers. Pence toured the immigration detention center in Donna and McAllen, Texas, and then held a session with Border Patrol workers and employees, where he praised the efforts they are making. Pence criticized reports presented by some Democratic Party representatives who described the detention centers as "concentration camps." “What we saw today is a facility that provides care that every American can be proud of,” Pence said. Video footage showed a number of immigrants protesting against the poor conditions inside the detention center, as some of them chanted to the US Vice President, “There is no place to shower.” Footage showed large numbers of migrants accumulating behind the bars of detention centers during Pence's visit, while some journalists accompanying the US Vice President described the smell in the place as bad. A number of Republican Senators accompanied Mike Pence on his tour, as did Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham. In a related context, US President Donald Trump said that the process of arresting immigrants facing deportation will begin at the end of the week at the level of all states. Trump is scheduled to meet with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales at the White House on Monday for talks on immigration and security. Government sources from both countries confirmed that Morales will sign an agreement with Trump declaring Guatemala a safe destination for those seeking asylum, while former officials in Guatemala resorted to the judiciary to stop such an agreement. Trump said last month that the United States and Guatemala were close to reaching a “safe third country agreement” as part of his efforts to limit US-bound migration from Central America. Under such an agreement, Guatemala would be obligated to process asylum applications from migrants who entered its territory on their way to the United States. Migrants from Honduras and El Salvador usually arrive in Mexico via Guatemala on their way to the US-Mexico border by land. For more: Trump: “If you don't like detention centers, don't come here.” The Trump administration issues orders to deport about one million illegal immigrants from the country