Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kevin McAleenan is laying out three fixes for Congress to act upon to address the migrant situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.

McAleenan addressed the supplemental funding for the U.S.-Mexico border requested by the DHS and Department of Health and Human Services during Thursdays press conference, in which he expressed hope of it gaining President Donald Trumps signature early next week.

The funding requested will provide the DHS with an additional $1.5 million for additional temporary facilities, transportation, medical care, consumables, and surge operations related to the care, custody, and processing of migrants apprehended at the border.

McAleenan also declared that the funding is critical for border security.

I think we should pause to note the significance of strong bipartisan votes to respond to the administrations request and provide the over $4.5 billion in total to support these humanitarian missions. Although we did not get everything we asked for the bill substantially addresses our request.

While the funding will help us make an impact immediately on the border, it will only serve to mitigate the crisis, McAleenan said, adding, Its not going to address the fundamental drivers that are contributing to it.

The DHS secretary shared hope in a bipartisan effort that would act as a catalyst to address the weaknesses in our legal framework.

In calling for Congress to act on immigration, McAleenan laid out three straightforward fixes to the U.S. immigration laws.

The first fix is to address the pull factors for family units. These are policy flaws that pull families north to the U.S., including the rule that families can only be detained for 21 days without being either separated or released. Currently, many families are released on their own recognizance, with only 13 percent ever returning for their asylum court date.

The second request is to prevent unaccompanied children from being placed in the hands of criminal smuggling organizations to make a dangerous journey north. This would involve allowing migrants to apply for asylum in their own countries.

The third fix would be to change certain standards of asylum laws.

We stand ready to discuss these sensible solutions or others with any willing members of Congress, said McAleenan. The time to address the fundamental drivers of these crises is now.

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DHS Chief Urges Congress to Address the Fundamental Drivers of Migrant Crisis: Funds Will Only Mitigate It - Independent Journal Review