NICK NEWS WITH LINDA ELLERBEE PRESENTS "THE BORDER KIDS" PREMIERING TUESDAY, DEC. 2, AT 8:00 P.M. (ET/PT) ON NICKELODEON

NEW YORK - Dec. 1, 2014 - In 2014, more than twice the number of kids crossed the southern border of the U.S. from Central America and Mexico than in 2013. Nick News with Linda Ellerbee hears from some of these kids in the brand-new half-hour special, "The Border Kids," premiering Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

"Everyone in the U.S., or their ancestors, came here from someplace else," says Ellerbee. "We are indeed a nation of immigrants. All of us. Always have been. And we always fight about who gets to come in next. And kids always get caught in that fight."

"My country was very dangerous. There are many gangs. I couldn't leave my house," says Emily from El Salvador.

"They try to get everyone to join in order for the gang to be larger and have the control there. I didn't feel safe at home," says Eliezar, 13, from El Salvador.

The special also features American kids weighing in on the topic.

"They should be protected the same way that any of us should be protected from violence and from crime," says Katie, 14 of New Jersey.

"In some way, it's okay for them to come here because they want a better life and we should help them in some way or another," says Rebecca, 14, of Laredo, Texas. "But, in some way, I guess I feel like it's not our responsibility. It's their own country's."

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