Posted on 06/21/2018 1:55:53 PM PDT by jazusamo
The Trump administration may place up to 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children on military bases starting as early as next month, according to a new Pentagon memo.
The notification, sent to lawmakers on Wednesday and first reported by The Washington Post, says the Defense Department received a request for assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“HHS has requested DOD determine its capabilities to provide up to 20,000 temporary beds for unaccompanied children at DOD installations,” the document states.
If the Pentagon finds that it can provide such lodging, “the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) requests the facilities be available for occupancy as early as July through December 31, 2018.”
HHS personnel or contractors would run the sites, providing care to the children, “including supervision, meals, clothing, medical services, transportation or other daily needs,” the memo states.
The Defense Department “would be fully reimbursed” for all expenses as stipulated by the Economy Act, the document adds.
Defense Secretary James Mattis on Wednesday said the military would house immigrant children if asked by the administration.
“We’ll see what they come in with. We support DHS, and right now this is their lead, and we’ll respond if requested,” Mattis told reporters outside the Pentagon.
Pressed on the issue, Mattis listed other situations when the military has housed people in need.
“We have housed refugees,” he said. “We have housed people thrown out of their homes by earthquakes and hurricanes. We do whatever is in the best interest of the country.”
Mattis spoke just before President Trump signed an executive order intended to end family separations at the U.S. southern border, attempting to staunch the controversy over the administration's “zero-tolerance” policy on illegal immigration.
Announced in April, the policy has led to an estimated 2,000 children being separated from their adult guardians and placed in detention centers while the adults await prosecution for illegally crossing the border.
DOD has not yet officially received a request from HHS to house migrant children but if it does, Trump’s executive order directs that Mattis “take all legally available measures to provide the Secretary of Homeland Security, upon request, any existing facilities available for the housing and care of alien families,” the memo notes.
The executive order also says that the Pentagon must “construct such facilities if necessary and consistent with law.”
The administration for months has eyed military bases as possible holding sites for illegal migrants.
HHS officials in May targeted four military bases to visit determine whether they were suitable to house minors separated from their families.
Three of the bases visited are in Texas – Army base Fort Bliss; Dyess Air Force Base, near Abilene; and Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo – and one is in Arkansas, Little Rock Air Force Base.
Using military bases to house minors is not unprecedented. The Obama administration in 2014 used Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Naval Base Ventura County in Southern California and Fort Sill, Okla., to house 7,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America.
This story was updated at 4:31 p.m.
NO, the liberals already have a child trafficking network. Send them back to their home nation. Only God knows what lies they were told or who paid for their trip here. How about finding out who did pay (I know I couldn’t afford a 2000 mile trip) and make them pay for the return trip.
Was Melanie jacket sabotaged?! Something’s not right here! I saw her entering the detention facility without a jacket then she boards the plane and those words appear on the back of her jacket! I have a feeling some antitrump bastard or *itch got a hold of it and wrote on it.. she probably didn’t even realize what was on the back of her jacket when she put it on! ...Watch the White House release a statement! I do not trust anybody who works with the government anymore! I think someone got ahold of it!! DAMN the liberals are going to crucify her to kingdom come...me thinks!
Our conflicted Left is certain that the GOP is doing everything wrong, but doesn’t want to lend a hand to do anything right, except virtue-signalingly whine, instead.
Here’s where Donald could issue a challenge and a call. Hey weeping Left. Do you really care about the kids as kids, or as about some generic moral issue?
Unaccompanied children means late teens
It’s because they are so inhumane to one another back in “good ole” Guatemala that they are trying to get into the USA by hook or crook.
We have to shut off the crook part, and the hook part needs to be very carefully circumscribed by sane law and process. I am not a “never say yes” but what’s being attempted here is an unholy mess.
perfect counterplay to the govs that are whining they don’t want detained in ‘their’ jails or HHS centers (that they had no problem with the Zero admin utilizing).
Let them complain that the kids might (gulp) see soldiers. I can’t wait for the military reaction to that!
If Guatemala is really that bad, we should invade and occupy it.
We’ve invaded countries in Latin America for less.
20K? WTH is going on at the border?
probably more a message to the MSM
If he doesn’t do something, he will be bludgeoned from now to November and maybe lose the house. I wish he would take his case to the people via TV new specials and less so on Twitter. He could lay out the exact history of this mess, how he is upholding law signed by Barbara Bush’s husband, the untenable position we are in, how Mexico and Central American nations need to take responsibility for their people, the harm illegals do to them US in so many ways, etc.
Invasion in progress. Inspired and encouraged by the left, the government of Mexico, the US Chamber of Commerce and the usual suspects of cheap labor republicans.
And Trump just talks talks talks.
I think yes it really is that bad. I don’t think Donald said s-hole, he denied it and I believe him, but it’s a piteous, piteous place.
If Donald manages to get NK to settle down, Guatemala should be a piece of cake.
Well, at least it gives him a genuine live issue to address.
United States ,The World’s Daycare Nation
That and a nickel buys a nice hot cup of jack squat.
That might be how you feel, but how you feel might not correspond to the actual situation poised over this land, the positions of hell and heaven.
Late teens probably come to the USA for the adventure.
We live by a SeaBEE base in CA. during the Obammie admin there were immigrants flying across our border in droves there were media trucks parked outside the base as buses of these illegals were being brought on to the base!!! This was when Glen Beck went to the border handing out teddie bears!!!! I often wonder what the HELL happened to ALL of those illegals that were housed on that base!!!!!!
I really view this as a challenge. Gaggles of older kids that have been marinated in the ordure that is Guatemalan culture.
It takes a Donald Trump to know how to do something constructive with this. Could they be turned around to want to do something good back in Guatemala?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.