washington unite state expand program help thousands people flee violence el salvador guatemala honduras u.s. secretary state john kerry say wednesday announcement follow backlash democrats u.s. congress call obama administration halt deportations families flee three crime-infested central american countries enter unite state without documentation expand refugee admissions program would offer safe legal alternative dangerous journey many currently tempt begin make easy prey human smugglers interest profit kerry say speech national defense university president barack obama previously say unite state would take 3,000 refugees latin america october year state department spokesperson say administration plan take 3,000 refugees region may adjust number condition require say u.s. government would work unite nations non-governmental organizations identify people need refugee protection specifically mention target criminal gang include human right activists also continue explore additional options include may imminent risk harm kerry say unite nations high commissioner human right refer potential refugee unite state resettlement case review resettlement support center accord state department unite state operate nine center globally one western hemisphere quito ecuador state department spokesperson say quito center operate branch office san salvador el salvador kerry say whether unite state would deploy federal workers region plan open additional center department homeland security receive 6,000 applications minors central america begin arrive unite state refugees secretary homeland security jeh johnson say jan. 4. say expect pace child refugee arrivals increase u.s. expand refugee program central americans flee violence