New US facility to hold immigrant children already closing

National Business

New US facility to hold immigrant children already closing

By NOMAAN MERCHANT Associated Press

July 23, 2019 09:03 AM

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In this Tuesday, July 9, 2019, photo, immigrants say the Pledge of Allegiance in a writing class at the U.S. government’s newest holding center for migrant children in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Following breakfast, children play soccer and then have classes held in trailers.


Eric Gay

AP Photo


HOUSTON

The nonprofit that operates a new U.S. government holding facility for migrant youths says the last teenagers detained there will leave by the end of the week.

Kevin Dinnin, the CEO of BCFS, said Tuesday that the facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, should be empty by Thursday.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opened the facility just a month ago. An HHS spokeswoman declined to comment Tuesday.

Carrizo Springs opened at the site of a former oilfield camp and was supposed to help HHS take in children who were otherwise detained by the U.S. Border Patrol in sometimes squalid conditions.

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But the facility opened just as border crossings have fallen. HHS has also sped up its processing to release children faster.

Vice News first reported the development.

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