Becerra Tours Shelter, Asks Congress To Overhaul Immigration Systems
After visiting Fort Bliss military base in Texas, currently the largest migrant shelter, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said conditions were improving and the number of child migrants at the camp had fallen. He also asked for changes in the entire immigration service.
The New York Times:
Becerra Says Care Of Migrant Children Improving, Urges Congress To Act
Xavier Becerra, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, pressed Congress on Monday to overhaul the nation’s immigration system after he visited an emergency shelter for migrant children on the Fort Bliss military base near El Paso. “I would really encourage our colleagues in the House and the Senate to consider taking that proposal on so we can get to a system that works,” Mr. Becerra said on a call with reporters, referring to a plan that President Biden offered early in his administration. Passing a measure is becoming increasingly unlikely. (Sullivan, 6/28)
Dallas Morning News:
Health And Human Services Secretary Tours Emergency Shelter For Migrant Children In El Paso
Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services said Monday the number of unaccompanied migrant children at the Fort Bliss emergency shelter has fallen sharply to 790 boys, from over 4,000 children in May. But he stopped short of calling for the closure of the controversial site because of “the fluid situation” on the ground. Becerra said after a visit to the temporary shelter that the government can’t close the site yet because of the need to ensure that children have a place to stay when they arrive at the border other than Border Patrol facilities. “When we demobilize is something that we’re working on,” he said. (Ramos Pacheco and Corchado, 6/28)
AP:
US: Big Drop In Migrant Kids At Largest Emergency Shelter
The number of migrant children housed at the Biden administration’s largest emergency shelter for those who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border alone has dropped by more than 40% since mid-June, a top U.S. official said Monday, touting progress at the facility that has been criticized by child welfare advocates. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told reporters that 790 boys were housed at Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, Texas, and the last girl left Monday. All the girls were reunited either with relatives in the U.S. or a sponsor such as a family friend or sent to licensed facilities, which have a higher standard of care, according to the agency responsible for caring for migrant children. (Watson and Taxin, 6/29)
In related news about the immigration crisis in Texas —
Politico:
New Border Fight Pits Texas Against Biden Over Care For 4,500 Migrant Kids
The Biden administration is in an escalating battle with Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott over a state plan to close shelters housing roughly 4,500 unaccompanied immigrant children. Abbott, who has positioned himself as a chief Biden antagonist on immigration ahead of a potential 2024 presidential bid, plans to revoke the licenses of any shelter that continues to serve migrant kids beginning Aug. 31 — a move that threatens to upend the refugee resettlement effort and has left federal health officials threatening to sue. (Cancryn, 6/28)
Dallas Morning News:
Irate That Abbott Could Tap COVID Relief Fund For Border Wall, Texas Dems Seek Ruling From Yellen
Texas Democrats in Congress are irate that Gov. Greg Abbott can divert federal funds intended for COVID-19 relief to build a border wall. On Monday, they asked Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to step in and block the state from using any of its $15.8 billion windfall for this “costly monstrosity.” “We are concerned by the prospect of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s potential misuse of these funds to continue the misguided plans of President Trump to extend a wall along the border between Texas and Mexico,” the 13 Texas lawmakers wrote. (Gillman, 6/28)
