This summer’s rush of undocumented child immigrants is subsiding. Although the crowds of undocumented children at our border have steadily declined from 10,600 in June to 3,129 in August, the problem has not gone away. The U.S. response must not involve immediate deportations.

Many undocumented children attempting to enter the U.S. illegally are fleeing gang violence and soul-crushing poverty in their homes in Central America. Often separated from their parents for years after their mothers and fathers leave to search for jobs and opportunities in America, these children simply have no other options. After tirelessly saving money from their meager paychecks, parents send for their kids to join them in America to reunite their families. This means that children must undergo a dangerous trek by themselves, without adult help, that covers hundreds of miles and costs thousands of dollars. Here in America, we must recognize that forcing these children to turn around at the border is inhumane when they have endured so many hardships.

Undocumented parents and children want nothing more than a better life for themselves and their families: in short, the American dream. Are we so heartless that we would immediately deport these children and their parents? It is true that undocumented immigrants have broken the law, but only to improve their lives. According to The Hill, most economists agree that unauthorized immigrants make significant contributions to the U.S. economy through low-income jobs. Without undocumented workers in many industries, such as agriculture, there would be labor shortages, and businesses would be unable to meet demand. Undocumented labor also results in lower prices for consumers, which benefits the economy by encouraging purchases. In addition, both legal and illegal immigrants’ contributions to government social welfare programs outweigh the cost of services  spent on them. According to the Social Security Administration, undocumented immigrants have contributed about $300 billion to the Social Security Trust Fund, nearly 10% of the total. Although it would be ideal for all immigrants to come legally, that is realistically impossible.

The Washington, D.C. area, especially Fairfax County, has received one of the highest concentrations of undocumented children. While taking these children in strains resources and adds an extra burden to our area’s budgets, it is the right thing to do. As the summer’s influx of undocumented children draws to a close, America is faced with a choice: are we going to give defenseless children a safe haven or ignore their plight and send them away?