Contract for HHS immigrant facility in Tornillo about to expire

The Department of Health and Human Services is not saying whether it plans to extend a contract for the immigrant facility near the port of entry in Tornillo.

The contract ends on August 13, 2018. On Thursday, a group of teenagers were seen playing soccer outside the facility.

In the past, HHS has told ABC-7 the facility in Tornillo is mainly for unaccompanied teens caught crossing the border illegally. Children separated from parents have been housed there in the past.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called the separation of families at the border “barbaric” during a visit to El Paso Wednesday. Pelosi spoke before a group of immigration advocates at the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services building in Central El Paso.

“The barbaric actions happening at our southern border challenges the conscious of America,” Pelosi said. The congressional leader did not visit the facility for migrant teens near the Tornillo port of entry.

Nearby ranchers told ABC-7 the size of the facility has grown to include more tents, but a spokesman for BFCS Global Network, tasked with running the facility, said the facility has not grown and is the same size.

ABC-7 asked if the facility will be closing soon and the spokesman responded: “I should not say ‘scheduled to close’ as I cannot speak for the government. However OUR tasking is until August 13th. “

ABC-7 also reached out to HHS to learn more about the future of the facility. The federal agency said the facility in Tornillo is currently in operation: “The temporary shelter established at Tornillo POE currently has capacity for 400 unaccompanied children, with the ability to expand or contract as needed.”