over the last month we've been telling you about the tens of thousands of children coming alone across the southern bored he of the united states. since october more than 27,000 children have reached the border. many of them fleeing brutal violence and extreme poverty in their home countries. as part of the obama administration's effort to stem the tide of people crossing the border the united states is sending $225 million in aid money to the three countries of origin for most of the migrant children. the money is to help assist the countries in ensuring their safety and security once they are resettled. some opponents of the aid program argued a better response to the surge in migrant children is punishment instead of protection which is why my letter this week goes to one of the most vocal and influential of those voices, the vice chair