The Pentagon on Friday approved the use of a California Army National Guard base to house unaccompanied migrant children traveling alone, reports The Associated Press. The housing, located at Camp Roberts in central California, is said only to be temporary. It is not known how many children will be placed there.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Saturday it has not finalized its decision and that the camp is “under active consideration.”
“When HHS decides to activate an Emergency Influx Site for unaccompanied migrant children we will notify state and local authorities as well as members of Congress,” the department said in a statement.
But a defense official told Fox News HHS approved the decision.
“On April 2, the Department of Defense approved a request for assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for facilities and land to temporarily house unaccompanied children at Camp Roberts, California.”
“This support is being provided on a fully-reimbursable basis… DoD only provides this kind of support where it has no impact on military readiness and its ability to conduct its primary missions.”
Border authorities have encountered more than 9,000 children since February, a record high since May 2019, which saw 11,000 unaccompanied children at the border. President Joe Biden during his first month in office suspended Title 42 for unaccompanied children only. The policy, which began last March under the Trump administration, allows Customs and Border Protection to expel undocumented migrants to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in holding facilities.
According to Fox, Customs and Border Protection encountered approximately 171,000 migrants in March.
Former CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan and Heritage senior research fellow Lora Ries say the crisis is only getting worse.
“We have a crisis on the border, even though the Biden administration still refuses to acknowledge it… Today’s numbers are just more evidence of this undeniable reality – and proof that President Biden’s policies are driving this crisis.”
Source: Newmax
