New child migrant shelter being built in Montana Vista area of El Paso County

MONTANA VISTA, Texas -- A large migrant shelter facility for children is being built on 25 acres in the Montana Vista area in El Paso County, according to County Judge Ricardo Samaniego.

Construction has already started on private property in the 4300 block of Oleary. It is being built and operated by Calibrun International, a parent company of Comprehensive Health Services. CHS operated the Homestead child migrant shelter in Florida, which was recently shut down.

"They want people to understand that this is going to be good for El Paso. We still have to wait and see if that is the case, but like I said there is nothing that we can do to say 'you can't be here,'" Samaniego said.

According to the Miami Herald , Caliburn is hiring for positions at three shelters in Texas, including the on here in El Paso being called the "Trail House" shelter.

Samaniego told ABC-7 that the shelter will hold about 500 children while they are being processes and connected to their families.

"I did see some of the renderings; they have soccer fields, they have cafeterias, they have education facilities," Samaniego said.

The facility will be monitored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

According to Samaniego, Caliburn is working with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The company is also working with WorkForce solutions to create over 800 jobs paying an average of $45,000 for psychologist, social worker and other positions.

In an email late Friday, a Caliburn International official told ABC-7 that "once licensed and approved for occupancy by the state of Texas, the facility will include cottages centered around a recreational area with soccer fields and playgrounds.  The facility will have classrooms, medical, counseling and dining facilities.  Permanent structures will be used to house and care for the children."