Bipartisan panel recommends changes to migrant processing

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan panel is calling for significant changes in how the federal government deals with a surge of migrant families at the border.

In an emergency interim draft report Tuesday, the Homeland Security Advisory Council said the federal should immediately establish three to four regional processing centers near the southwest border, where migrant families would be housed, receive medical care, go through immigration and have their asylum cases heard by immigration judges.

The council is also calling for changes to a court settlement to allow authorities to hold minor children who enter the country with guardians for longer than 20 days. The council describes the current situation as untenable.

The report will now be sent to the acting secretary of Homeland Security for consideration.