News
Court Mandates Prompt Housing for Migrant Children in Border Detention
In a landmark decision, a Federal District Court judge, Judge Dolly M. Gee of the United States District Court of Central California, has ordered the federal government to promptly house migrant children who cross into the United States unlawfully. This ruling comes as a response to a class-action lawsuit representing the children, which argued that minors at the border sites were in the legal custody of the Department of Homeland Security and therefore entitled to certain rights and protections, including a safe and sanitary environment.
The court order, effective immediately, is expected to impact thousands of children and potentially more. It will require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to allocate additional resources to handle the influx of migrants at the border. The agency has already increased the capacity at processing centers in San Diego and ramped up transport buses and personnel to expedite apprehensions.
With the ongoing debate surrounding the rights of migrants, especially children, entering the United States without authorization, this ruling is crucial. The immigration processing centers in southern San Diego County have been overwhelmed, leading migrants to wait for hours or even days in makeshift camps before being taken into custody.
The ruling extends beyond California, where open air encampments lack shelter, food, and sanitation, raising serious public health concerns for vulnerable children. Aid workers and medical volunteers at the sites report that unaccompanied children and families arrive in poor health, with traumatic injuries and chronic conditions exacerbating the dire situation.
Dehydration, heat stroke, and hypothermia are common issues faced by migrants in these outdoor areas, posing a significant risk to children, who may be malnourished and more susceptible to such conditions. Judge Gee’s decision highlights the responsibility of Border Patrol agents in providing care and support to minors in their custody, emphasizing the need for a safe and humane environment.
While the government argued that it was not obligated to provide services to children not yet formally apprehended, the court’s ruling emphasizes the agency’s role in ensuring the well-being of all minors under its control. The Department of Homeland Security is now tasked with processing children expeditiously and placing them in suitable facilities that meet basic standards of care.
The lawyers representing the children invoked the Flores settlement agreement, a legal framework that mandates humane treatment for immigrant children in government custody. They argued that children at the border sites deserve the same level of care and protection as those already in official custody, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to address the dire conditions at the encampments.
While the Department of Justice contended that the children were not yet in custody and therefore not entitled to services, the court’s ruling underscores the government’s responsibility to safeguard the well-being of all minors under its control. The implementation of this decision will require a coordinated effort to ensure the timely and appropriate housing of migrant children awaiting processing at the border.
As the immigration system grapples with the challenges posed by the influx of migrants, including children, this ruling serves as a critical step towards upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals seeking refuge in the United States. It underscores the fundamental principle that every person, regardless of their immigration status, deserves to be treated with compassion and respect.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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