Pearce responds after hundreds of migrant children arrive at Holloman

In New Mexico more than 200 of unaccompanied migrant children arrived at Holloman Air Force Base last Saturday. It’s part of an effort to add thousands of beds across the nation to temporarily house immigrants.

Congressman Steve Pearce issued the following statement:

“I do not agree with the President’s decision to house unaccompanied minors at Holloman Air Force Base. However, the Obama administration made clear that the use of Holloman Air Force Base by the Department of Health and Human Services to house these children is a temporary situation,” said Congressman Steve Pearce.

“Though providing safe housing is important, communication and transparency with the local population is paramount. As I’ve said before, in order for this program to function properly, HHS must be open and accountable to the base and community of Alamogordo”.

Holloman Air Force Base is one of three temporary facilities housing unaccompanied minors. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is fully responsible for providing the healthcare, schooling, and recreation for these children. The children will have limited access to the base and local community until they are placed in permanent homes with their sponsor families in the United States.

One of the base’s empty building has been worked on by the Department of Health and Human Services for more than a month. The kids are handed over to HHS by the Border Patrol after they are apprehended at the border.

“HHS is responsible for the care of these children while in HHS custody, and is working in close coordination with local officials on security and safety of the children and community,” said Toby Merkt from Health and Human Services.

The minors will be held at Holloman for an average of 32 days while Health and Human Services try to contact their sponsors or family members in the US to have them taken care of.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect anything at all, I think they’re, they’re in Holloman so I think they’re going to be contained over there,” said Fernando Torres, an Alamogordo resident.

Merkt said the impact of the shelters on the local community is minimal, and the children won’t attend local schools.

Some residents said they don’t mind as long as Air Force funds aren’t being used.

“As long as we’re not helping them out and it’s a separate agency,” said Kim Edwards, a local resident.

Others are more than glad to play host.

“Some of the children need help, you know? And if we can furnish them the help it’s good,” said Torres.

The base will be able to hold up to 700 children at a time as it remains active over the next six months.