HHS to continue operations at Tornillo migrant shelter for another month

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday it will continue operations at the temporary shelter in Tornillo for another 30 days from August 13, 2018 to September 13, 2018.

The shelter is being used to house unaccompanied children who entered the United States illegally. HHS officials recently told ABC-7 the facility can house up to 400 children.

“An existing grant is being used to continue operations at Tornillo LPOE. No new contracts for operations at Tornillo were awarded,” an HHS spokeswoman said.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is “continuously monitoring bed capacity available to provide shelter for minors who arrive at the U.S. border unaccompanied and are referred to HHS for care by immigration officials,” a news release states.

Ten members of the bi-partisan Mexican American Legislative Caucus toured the temporary shelter Friday to get a first-hand look at how the teenagers are being cared for.

They said also said they wanted to bring attention to what they call “an unfair policy.”

Members of the caucus told ABC-7 there were about 172 unaccompanied teens in the facility Friday. Officials said the teenagers play soccer and create artwork, as part of activities meant to promote a positive environment.

Texas State Representative Cesar Blanco told ABC-7 he spoke with a teenager who told him that he was being treated well. Members of the caucus are still concerned the teenagers are being house in tents.

Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez said she would like to see the entire facility shut down. According to Gonzalez, every child in the facility has a sponsor, and if the administration would move quicker, the facility could actually be shut down by Sunday and all children placed in homes.

Gonzalez is not just calling on the administration for change, she said the state is also taking a proactive approach. At the state level, Gonzalez is learning more about how possible abuse cases are reported. “What are the policies and procedures – that’s one of the things I’m concerned with because, if a child gets abused, how is a child safe,” Gonzalez said, “We’re also looking into oversight and accountability.”

Thursday, ABC-7 learned a federal contractor, Comprehensive Healthcare Services (CHS), is hiring five thousand people to work at the facility for undocumented boys in Tornillo, Texas. A spokesman with the contractor told ABC-7 the facility could be expanded to accommodate more undocumented minors.

“We’ve been asked to be on standby to increase the size of the shelter,” said Steven Mickholtzick, the director of recruiting for CHS.