With the deaths of two migrant children from Guatemala last month and another tear-gassing of crowds that included children just across the Southern U.S. border on New Year’s Day, nobody should argue against a thorough investigation of the circumstances that continue to place minors in highly dangerous situations. The fact that these “circumstances” are under the control of U.S. government agents justifies — even compels — us to make sure that protocols for managing an extraordinary immigration crisis do not endanger the lives of anyone, especially young children. 

Furthermore, the red-hot partisan politics of immigration reform, including how we manage to appropriately secure our borders and keep out individuals who come with nefarious intent — yet, still allow for legal opportunities to seek opportunity or asylum in America will be one of the issues likely to be a high priority for the new Congress.