Democratic opposition over the amendment of a 2008 law that protects undocumented children immigrants in the U.S. may slow down  the government's response to a flood of more than 56,000 Central American children who have crossed the southern border.

A meeting on Wednesday, attended by President Barack Obama's senior adminstration officials, two Cabinet secretaries and 63 senators, tackled Obama's request for emergency funding worth US$3.7 billion to respond to the crisis.

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While U.S. lawmakers said they hoped to resolve the issue within the month, before Congress leaves for its five-week summer break on Aug. 1, it seems unlikely that an accord would be reached by then because of strong opposition from a growing number of Democrats.

Majority of Republicans said they would approve Obama's US$3.7 billion emergency funding request only if the 2008 law was amended to allow for undocumented children to be deported quickly.

This would mean the elimination of certain legal provisions that protect the children.

Under the bipartisan proposal, undocumented children would undergo a court hearing within a week of their arrival.

The hearing would be conducted within 72 hours from which the judge would then decide whether the child would be allowed to legally stay in the U.S.

If the judge decides otherwise, the child would be sent home or deported immediately.

Many Democrats voiced opposition on the proposal.

Illinois Senator Richard Durbin and New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez argued against eliminating the existing legal provisions in the 2008 law that guarantees legal counsel for the children.

Durbin said that the child was too young to decide his future and would need proper legal representation.

The bipartisan legislation "undermine(s) the due process rights of a child that exists under existing law," said Menendez.

Likewise, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opposed the change, claiming that the legislation was "too broad" and overlaps with other issues irrelevant to the border crisis.

He also cited that the time frame was too short to make a proper case such as in presenting in court proper documentation such as affidavits and certificates.

Even so, the question remains whether the opposition will be enough to prevent the bill from being passed since the bipartisan proposal has already gained widespread support among Republicans.

Tagsimmigration, harry reid, richard durbin, robert menendrez, democratic opposition, republicans versus democrats, children migrants, deportation, US deportees, children deported, bipartisan bill, HUMANE bill